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Annual report to the General Assembly of the state of North Carolina on the Intensive Family Preservation Services Program for the ... state fiscal year

Annual report to the General Assembly of the state of North Carolina on the Intensive Family Preservation Services Program for the ... state fiscal year

Annual Report
on the
Intensive Family Preservation Services Program
for the 2003- 2004 State Fiscal Year
December 2004
Prepared by
Jordan Institute for Families
School of Social Work
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
for
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Social Services Table of Contents
Executive Summary........................................................................................................................ 1
Introduction................................................................................................................... .................. 4
Review of Program Goals.................................................................................................... 4
Placement Prevention as an Outcome Measure................................................................... 5
Review of Policies and Procedures on Eligibility and Imminent Risk................................ 6
Program Summary for SFY 2004.................................................................................................... 8
Number of Families, Caretakers and Children Served........................................................ 8
Referral Information.......................................................................................................... 10
Family Information............................................................................................................ 11
Caretaker Demographics.................................................................................................... 13
Imminent Risk Child Demographics................................................................................. 14
Service Delivery Information............................................................................................ 16
Closure Information........................................................................................................... 17
Families Not Accepted/ Appropriate for IFPS................................................................... 18
Five Year Trend Analysis.............................................................................................................. 20
Number of Families, Caretakers and Children Served...................................................... 20
Referral Source.................................................................................................................. 21
Age and Gender of Imminent Risk Children..................................................................... 22
Primary Issues Affecting Families at Referral................................................................... 22
Monetary Assistance.......................................................................................................... 24
Race of Imminent Risk Children....................................................................................... 26
Placement of Imminent Risk Children............................................................................... 27
Family Functioning: North Carolina Family Assessment Scale.................................................... 29
Retrospective Study of the Effectiveness of IFPS......................................................................... 40
Cost- Effectiveness, Cost/ Benefit Analysis.................................................................................... 50
Summary of Major Findings from the Outcome- Focused Evaluation
of North Carolina’s Intensive Family Preservation Services Program.............................. 55
Appendices
Appendix A. Intensive Family Preservation Services Contact List for SFY 2003- 2004.............. 56
Appendix B. Program Allocations and Expenditures for SFY 2003- 2004.................................... 58
North Carolina Division of Social Serrvices-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 i
List of Tables
Table 1. Number of Families, Caretakers and Children Served by IFPS Programs
During SFY 2004, Listed by Program and County........................................................ 8
Table 2. Referral Information for Families Served by IFPS Programs..................................... 11
Table 3. Family Information at Referral and Intake.................................................................. 12
Table 4. Demographics of Caretakers Living in the Home....................................................... 13
Table 5. Demographics of Imminent Risk Children.................................................................. 14
Table 6. Imminent Risk Criteria for Imminent Risk Children by Referral Source.................... 15
Table 7. Service Delivery Information...................................................................................... 17
Table 8. Case Closure Information............................................................................................ 18
Table 9. Families Not Accepted/ Appropriate for IFPS............................................................. 19
Table 10. Risk of System Placement of Imminent Risk Children at Referral Compared
to Living Arrangement After IFPS, for Children Who Were Placed in
Out- of- Home Care, SFY 2000 through SFY 2004...................................................... 28
Table 11. Level of Change Experienced by Families on Each Domain of the
North Carolina Family Assessment Scale During IFPS.............................................. 35
Table 12. Children at Risk of Out- of- Home Placement at Intake................................................ 51
Table 13. Estimated Potential and Estimated Actual Costs of Placements for SFY 2004.......... 52
Table 14. Determining the Fiscal Break- Even Point of the IFPS Program: Cost and
Cost- Savings Resulting from Different Levels of Child Placement Prevention......... 53
North Carolina Division of Social Serrvices-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 ii
List of Figures
Figure 1. Number of Families, Imminent Risk Children, and Total Children Served
by IFPS Programs........................................................................................................ 21
Figure 2. Percent of Families Served by IFPS Referral Source.................................................. 22
Figure 3. Primary Issues Affecting Families at Referral: Percent of Families
Experiencing Issue....................................................................................................... 23
Figure 4. Percent of Families Needing and Receiving Monetary Assistance from IFPS........... 24
Figure 5. Total Dollars Provided as Monetary Assistance to Needy IFPS Families.................. 25
Figure 6. Race of Imminent Risk Children in Families Receiving IFPS.................................... 26
Figure 7. Environment Ratings at Intake and Closure................................................................ 31
Figure 8. Parental Capabilities Ratings at Intake and Closure.................................................... 32
Figure 9. Family Interactions Ratings at Intake and Closure...................................................... 32
Figure 10. Family Safety Ratings at Intake and Closure............................................................... 33
Figure 11. Child Well- Being Ratings at Intake and Closure......................................................... 34
Figure 12. Level of Change Experienced by Families on NCFAS Domain Scores...................... 36
Figure 13. Overall Change on the NCFAS.................................................................................... 37
Figure 14. Risk of Placement After CPS Report/ Referral to IFPS............................................... 44
Figure 15. Risk of Placement After CPS Report/ Referral to IFPS for
Children with 1+ Prior PA Spells................................................................................ 45
Figure 16. Risk of Placement After CPS Report/ Referral to IFPS for
Children with 1+ Prior Substantiations........................................................................ 46
Figure 17. Risk of Placement After CPS Report/ Referral to IFPS for
Children with 1+ Prior Hi Risk Substantiations.......................................................... 47
Figure 18. Risk of Placement After CPS Report/ Referral to IFPS for
Children Receiving Traditional CW Services by Race............................................... 48
Figure 19. Risk of Placement After CPS Report/ Referral to IFPS for
Children Receiving IFPS Services by Race................................................................. 49
Figure 20. Risk of Placement After CPS Report/ Referral to IFPS for
non- White Children..................................................................................................... 50
North Carolina Division of Social Serrvices-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 iii
Executive Summary
This report presents data and findings on North Carolina’s Intensive Family Preservation ( IFPS) Program from State Fiscal Year 2003 – 2004 ( SFY 2004), and on a five- year history of families served SFY 2000 through SFY 2004. The findings from the analyses of five- year trend data remain very positive, both in terms of achieving legislative intent, and in terms of achieving a variety of positive outcomes for families and children- at- risk of abuse or neglect in North Carolina.
During SFY 2004, 32 IFPS programs provided services in 50 counties, serving 618 families in which 1,210 children were at imminent risk of being removed from the home. After IFPS services, 54 of those children ( 5%) were not living at home. This represents a placement prevention rate of 94% with respect to families, and 95% with respect to individual children. Changes in family functioning that enabled children and families to remain together safely included improvements in environmental factors, parental capabilities, family interactions, family safety and child well- being. SFY 2004 was the fifth year that the North Carolina Family Assessment Scale ( NCFAS), Version 2.0, was used by IFPS programs. The NCFAS V2.0 data are discussed in detail elsewhere in this report.
During the past year, the number of minority children served by IFPS programs remained at 49% of all imminent risk children served ( 35% African American and 14% other minority populations). The proportion of white children in the service population remains at an all time low of 51%. The increase in service to minority children over the last four years is attributable to the expansion of IFPS programs in counties with a high percentage of minority children in the child welfare population.
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 1
Significant shifts have also occurred over the past five years with respect to referral source and primary issues affecting families. DSS referred families increased from 54% to 70% in SFY 2001 and have remained fairly constant ( ranging from 70% to 80%) over the last four years. There has been an increase in the number of families presenting with the problem of neglect ( ranging from 56% to 61% since SFY 2001) and a decline in the number of families presenting with problems with school, delinquency or sexual abuse. The increase in DSS referred families and shift in primary issues affecting families appears to be due to the change in eligibility criteria in SFY 2001.
IFPS programs continue to show stability with regard to the age and sex distribution of imminent risk children over the past 5 years. Further, IFPS programs continue to demonstrate a very high degree of success in preventing placements, averaging about 93% per year with respect to families, and 94% with respect to individual children. Other important 5- year findings are that the IFPS program appears to have a significant effect on determining the level of service need for children who are ultimately placed in out- of- home care. Data indicate that children at risk of placement in correctional or psychiatric care at the time of intake often can be served in less costly, less restrictive alternative placements. Further, a small number of children at risk of placement into foster care have service needs identified that result in their receiving mental health services or more restrictive care.
Analyses of data from the North Carolina Family Assessment Scale reveal statistically significant relationships between “ strengths” on several domains and placement prevention, and between “ problems” on several domains and out- of- home placement. Further, the data indicate convincingly that IFPS interventions are capable of improving family functioning across all the
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 2
measured domains, and that these improvements in family functioning are statistically significantly associated with placement prevention.
Results of the on- going retrospective study of the effectiveness of IFPS indicate that IFPS is effective, and becoming more effective as compared to prior years, in preventing or delaying out- of- home placement among the target population of high- risk families when compared to the same types of families receiving traditional child welfare services. Results also indicate that the higher the risk evident in families, the larger the difference is between IFPS and traditional services. Further, IFPS appears to be effective at mitigating placement differences between white and non- white populations.
Taken as a whole, the evaluation results for the Intensive Family Preservation Services program in North Carolina reveal that:
♦ there are significant shifts in family functioning that occur during IFPS that are associated with positive treatment outcomes;
♦ placement prevention rates have been very steady, ranging between 88- 94% of families, and 89- 95% of children each year since the program began, with the SFY 2004 programs providing the best placement prevention rates to date;
♦ IFPS continues to be a very cost effective program, and yields a very favorable cost/ benefit ratio;
♦ benefits appear to accrue for families that have received the service ( as measured by living arrangements of families, service utilization by families, and their apparent abilities to handle family stress).
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 3
Introduction
This is the eleventh Annual Report on North Carolina’s Intensive Family Preservation Services ( IFPS) program that presents data and information about families and children that have participated in the program. It is the eighth annual report in which data from more than one year are presented, including five- year trend data on the service population and a retrospective study examining the effectiveness of IFPS. Information about the IFPS program’s activities and performance relating specifically to SFY 2004 are also presented.
Data that are presented graphically or in tables represent the most interesting findings from the current year, or from past years. There is also a section on Family Functioning, based upon the use of the North Carolina Family Assessment Scale. Further, the retrospective study to examine the treatment effects of IFPS has been expanded this year to include data on placement outcomes for DSS referred children served through December 2002.
Data from the IFPS statewide information system are presented that:
♦ examine this year’s performance of the program,
♦ describe the historical trends of the program since its beginning,
♦ describe research and evaluation findings that help explain the program’s data,
♦ examine the long term outcomes of families that have received the services, and
♦ discuss the cost effectiveness and cost/ benefit of the program.
Review of Program Goals
The goal of North Carolina’s Intensive Family Preservation Services Program is to prevent the unnecessary placement of children away from their families by providing intensive, in- home services that result in long term improvements in parents’ abilities to care for and protect their children.
The services provided by IFPS programs are intended to meet the following objectives:
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 4
♦ to stabilize the crisis that places the child at imminent risk of placement;
♦ to keep the child, family and community safe by reducing the potential for violence ( physical, sexual, emotional/ verbal);
♦ to keep the child safe from the consequences of neglect;
♦ to help families develop skills and resources needed to face and resolve future crises; and,
♦ to improve family functioning so that the family’s quality of life is improved.
Program Design Includes:
♦ Targeting families with children at imminent risk of out of home placement;
♦ Time- limited services lasting not more than six weeks;
♦ Home- based services where at least half of the face- to- face contact occurs in the family’s home or community;
♦ Focus on promoting family competence, building on the family’s strengths;
♦ Culturally competent services demonstrating understanding and respect for cultural and ethnic diversity;
♦ Therapeutic and concrete services;
♦ Round the clock access to family preservation caseworkers;
♦ Caseloads no greater than four families at any given time, and
♦ Specially trained and supported family preservation caseworkers.
Placement Prevention as an Outcome Measure
Throughout the report, “ placement prevention,” or variations of the term, is one of several outcome measures used to discuss IFPS program success. Indeed, the definition of those eligible for IFPS ( as expressed in the Division of Social Services’ Policies and Procedures for the IFPS program) is: “... child( ren) at imminent risk of out- of- home placement into the social services, mental health/ developmental disabilities/ substance abuse services, or juvenile justice system.” The prevention of “ unnecessary” placements into these systems is a central philosophical underpinning of IFPS. However, many of these placements have become North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 5
“ unnecessary” only because there are now services ( IFPS) that provide an alternative to placement in foster care or institutional care.
Having established the desirability of preventing unnecessary placements, it must be recognized that not all placements are preventable, and sometimes placement is in the best interest of the child. Therefore, “ placement prevention” is not an entirely satisfactory success statistic, and it must be viewed within the context of child safety and family functioning. Child safety is the primary concern of all IFPS programs, and family functioning comprises a variety of things ( resources, supports, skills, etc.) that enable families to resolve crises and remain together, safely.
Review of Policies and Procedures on Eligibility and Imminent Risk
The policies and procedures for IFPS programs were revised during fiscal year 2001 and effective April 1, 2001. Eligibility guidelines for receipt of IFPS services were standardized. All IFPS programs funded through the appropriation in SL 1999- 237 may only serve clients who have an open Child Protective Services case with the local Department of Social Services. Previously existing programs that receive funding from sources other than SL 1999- 237 may continue to accept referrals from agencies other than DSS. The SL 1999- 237 funded programs must also ensure that client families have an annual income that is no greater than 200% of the federal poverty level.
Policy revisions during fiscal year 2001 also standardized assessment criteria for determining imminent risk. Objective criteria have been established to standardize the definition of imminent risk for each referral source. These criteria include:
DSS Referred Cases
♦ There has been a substantiation of abuse or neglect; and
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 6
♦ There is a rating of “ High Risk” on the standardized risk assessment worksheet for at least one child who has been substantiated in the family.
Juvenile Justice Referred Cases
♦ There has been adjudication that the juvenile is delinquent or undisciplined, and the juvenile violates protective supervision or probation, or there are new charges; or
♦ The juvenile has been placed on Level 2 disposition by the court.
Mental Health Referred Cases
♦ A child may be considered “ at imminent risk of out of home placement” when the child’s treatment team determines that if IFPS were not offered, the child would be referred to a residential or inpatient setting; and
♦ A child receives a total CAFAS score of 60 or above, or a subscore of 30 on either the parent/ caregiver or the moods/ self- harm domain.
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 7
Program Summary for SFY 2004
Number of Families, Caretakers and Children Served
During SFY 2004, 32 IFPS programs provided services to families in 50 counties throughout North Carolina. Table 1, below, presents a detailed table of the programs and counties served, as well as the number of families, imminent risk children, total children and caretakers served.
Table 1: Number of Families, Caretakers and Children Served by IFPS Programs
During SFY 2004, Listed by Program and County
INTENSIVE FAMILY PRESERVATION PROGRAM
COUNTY SERVED
FAMILIES SERVED
CARE- TAKERS SERVED
IMMINENT RISK CHILDREN SERVED
ALL CHILDREN SERVED
Mountain Youth Resources
Cherokee
8
11
6
18
Graham
8
15
13
15
Macon
8
10
8
17
Blue Ridge Mental Health
Buncombe
1
2
1
2
Buncombe County DSS
Buncombe
38
64
70
80
Home Remedies- Bringing It
Burke
12
20
32
35
All Back Home
Caldwell
7
11
14
15
Lenoir
1
1
2
2
Foothills Mental Health
Alexander
3
5
3
3
Burke
1
1
1
1
Caldwell
7
11
7
18
Cleveland County DSS
Cleveland
21
35
44
60
Gaston County DSS
Gaston
30
49
69
70
Cabarrus County DSS
Cabarrus
20
31
58
59
Piedmont Behavioral Healthcare
Cabarrus
6
8
12
17
Rowan
1
1
1
1
Centerpointe Mental Health
Davie
1
2
0
2
Forsyth
13
21
12
34
Stokes
3
6
2
6 North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 8
INTENSIVE FAMILY PRESERVATION PROGRAM
COUNTY SERVED
FAMILIES SERVED
CARE- TAKERS SERVED
IMMINENT RISK CHILDREN SERVED
ALL CHILDREN SERVED
Cumberland Mental Health
Cumberland
9
13
10
27
Methodist Home for Children
Chatham
13
22
18
28
Pitt
10
17
11
11
Scotland
14
21
19
40
Wake
10
16
10
32
Wayne
14
23
26
36
Smoky Mountain Mental Health
Haywood
8
12
10
12
Jackson
4
5
10
11
Swain
1
1
1
1
Choanoke Area Development
Halifax
23
32
33
37
Association
Northampton
5
8
7
9
Family Connections
Person
12
17
22
25
Catawba County DSS
Catawba
23
36
55
55
Iredell County DSS
Iredell
20
34
41
41
Sandhills Mental Health
Richmond
12
18
21
28
Clay County DSS
Clay
3
3
7
10
EXPANSION PROGRAMS
S. Region 2: BIABH
Rutherford
8
12
14
19
N. Region 3: Rainbow Center
Wilkes
12
15
29
29
S. Region 3: Youth Homes
Mecklenburg
27
39
77
85
N. Region 4: Exchange Club/ SCAN
Forsyth
22
29
49
55
N. Region 4: Centerpointe MH
Forsyth
2
2
4
4
S. Region 4: Piedmont Beh. Healthcare
Rowan
10
15
14
22
S. Region 5: Fam. Serv. of Piedmont
Guilford
26
40
52
57
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 9
INTENSIVE FAMILY PRESERVATION PROGRAM
COUNTY SERVED
FAMILIES SERVED
CARE- TAKERS SERVED
IMMINENT RISK CHILDREN SERVED
ALL CHILDREN SERVED
S. Region 5: Youth Focus
Guilford
27
42
68
72
N. Region 7: Cumberland Co. MH
Cumberland
23
34
62
68
S. Region 7: Methodist Home
Robeson
18
31
29
43
S. Region 8: Methodist Home
Johnston
12
19
26
27
Region 9: Martin County Community
Bertie
5
5
13
13
Action
Gates
2
2
4
4
Hertford
3
5
6
9
Martin
4
6
13
13
Pasquotank
1
1
1
1
Perquimans
1
2
2
2
Region 10: Methodist Home
Beaufort
10
15
23
23
Brunswick
8
13
15
18
Craven
1
2
2
4
Dare
3
5
8
8
New Hanover
11
16
15
25
Onslow
6
10
14
14
Pamlico
4
6
8
9
Wayne
2
2
6
6
Totals
618
950
1210
1488
During SFY 2004, a total of 618 families received services that ended before July 1, 2004. There were 1,210 imminent risk children identified in these families, among a total of 1,488 children in the families; 950 caretakers were served directly by the programs.
Referral Information
Table 2 presents information collected at the time the case is referred to IFPS for service. The majority of referrals came from DSS ( 76%), followed by Mental Health ( 13%) and Juvenile
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 10
Justice ( 9%); all other sources, combined, accounted for about 1%. The average response time from referral to the first visit to the family by an IFPS worker was 1.56 days.
Table 2: Referral Information for Families Served by IFPS Programs
Referral Information
Number
Percent
Referral Source
DSS
472
76.4%
MH/ DD/ SAS
82
13.3%
Juvenile Justice
58
9.4%
Other
6
1.0%
Average Number of Days from Referral to First Home Visit
1.56
DSS Referred Families with Substantiation of Abuse and/ or Neglect
437
92.6%
Risk Assessment Rating for those with Substantiation
Low
1
0.2%
Medium
25
5.7%
High
411
94.1%
Average Number of Days from Substantiation to IFPS Referral
74
Eligibility criteria require that DSS referred cases have a substantiation of abuse and/ or neglect, and that the family, or at least one imminent risk child in the family, have a “ high” rating on the Family Risk Assessment Factor Worksheet completed by the DSS investigator. In SFY 2004, 93% of DSS referred cases were reported to have had a substantiation of abuse and/ or neglect. The majority ( 94%) of these families had a “ high” or “ intensive” rating on the family risk assessment. The average length of time from the DSS substantiation of abuse and/ or neglect to the referral for IFPS services was 74 days.
Family Information
Table 3 presents information collected about families at referral and intake. About 7% of families served in SFY 2004 had received IFPS previously. Lack of financial resources was indicated as causing significant family stress in 40% of families; these families did not have incomes sufficient to meet their basic needs.
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 11
Table 3: Family Information at Referral and Intake
Family Information
Number
Percent
Families that Previously Received IFPS
44
7.2%
Families Without Sufficient Income to Cover Basic Needs
201
40.1%
Top 10 Issues Presenting the Family at Referral
Family Conflict/ Violence
413
66.8%
Neglect
347
56.1%
School Difficulty
276
44.7%
Other Drug Abuse
163
26.4%
Mental Illness
127
20.6%
Alcohol Abuse
126
20.4%
Delinquency
109
17.6%
Learning Disability
98
15.9%
Truancy
97
15.7%
Physical Abuse
86
13.9%
Average Number of Issues Indicated per Family
4.25
Strengths Identified in 50% or More of Families at Intake
Eager to keep family together
487
78.8%
Verbal
443
71.7%
Pleasant
362
58.6%
Responsive
333
53.9%
Orderly/ neat in home and person
328
53.1%
Caring
319
51.6%
Receptive
317
51.3%
Average Number of Strengths Identified per Family
9.85
The major issues placing children at risk at the time of referral were: family conflict and violence; neglect; school difficulty; alcohol or other drug abuse by one or more family members; mental illness; delinquency; learning disability; truancy; and physical abuse. On average, 4 major issues were identified per family that placed children at imminent risk of placement. In spite of these issues, in the majority ( 79%) of families IFPS workers were able to identify at least one caretaker who was eager to keep the family together, and who displayed various strengths that were used as the foundation of the IFPS worker’s intervention plan. Caseworkers were able to identify an average of 10 family strengths per family that would aid in the intervention plan.
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 12
Caretaker Demographics
In SFY 2004, 950 caretakers were living in the homes of the 618 families served by the IFPS programs. Table 4 presents demographic information for these caretakers.
Table 4: Demographics of Caretakers Living in the Home
Demographics of Caretakers Living in the Home
Number
Percent
Age
Average Age
35
Under 18
12
1.3%
18 – 24
110
11.8%
25 – 30
188
20.1%
31 – 40
381
40.8%
41 – 50
174
18.6%
51 – 60
40
4.3%
Over 60
29
3.1%
Gender
Female
624
65.7%
Male
326
34.3%
Race
White
599
63.1%
African American
283
29.8%
Other
67
7.1%
Working Full- Time
379
39.9%
Working Part- Time
73
7.7%
Unemployed
316
33.3%
Unemployed— Homemaker
80
8.4%
Unemployed— Disabled
81
8.5%
Educational Status
Less than 10th grade
98
12.4%
10th – 12th grade
244
30.9%
High school/ GED
301
38.1%
Post college/ college graduate
146
18.5%
The average age of the caretakers served by the program was 35 years old. One- third ( 33%) of the caretakers were 30 years old or less, one- quarter ( 26%) were over the age of 40, and the remaining 41% were between 31 and 40 years old. Two- thirds ( 66%) of caretakers living in the home were female. The majority of caretakers were White ( 63%), 30% were African American, and 7% were of other minority races. Only 40% of caretakers were employed
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 13
in full- time work and an almost equal percentage ( 33%) of caretakers were unemployed and in need of work. Nearly half ( 43%) of all caretakers had less than a high school diploma.
Imminent Risk Child Demographics
In SFY 2004, 1,210 children were identified as being at imminent risk of out- of- home placement from among the 618 families served by the IFPS programs. Table 5 presents demographic information on the children at imminent risk of out- of- home placement.
Table 5: Demographics of Imminent Risk Children
Demographics of Imminent Risk Children
Number
Percent
Age
Average Age
8.07
0 – 5
440
36.7%
6 – 12
445
37.1%
13 – 15
232
19.3%
16 – 17
83
6.9%
Gender
Female
592
48.9%
Male
618
51.1%
Race
White
611
50.5%
African American
427
35.3%
Other
172
14.2%
Risk of System Placement
Social Services
1063
87.9%
Mental Health
73
6.0%
Substance Abuse Services
0
0.0%
Juvenile Justice
63
5.2%
Developmental Disability
2
0.2%
Private Placement
8
0.7%
The average age of the imminent risk child was about 8 years old. Forty- nine percent of the imminent risk children were female and 51% were male. Half ( 51%) of the children were White and 35% were African American. Other minority children represented 14% of the imminent risk children served. ( Refer to the “ Five Year Trend Analysis” section for more information about the racial distribution of the IFPS population.) The large majority of children
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 14
( 88%) were at risk of a Social Services placement. Another 6% were at- risk of a Mental Health placement, and 5% were at- risk of a Juvenile Justice placement.
The revised IFPS Policies and Procedures detail specific imminent risk criteria for each type of referral source. Table 6 presents summary information on the imminent risk criteria for children at imminent risk of out- of- home placement.
Table 6: Imminent Risk Criteria for Imminent Risk Children by Referral Source
Imminent Risk Criteria
Number
Percent
DSS Referred IR Children
1060
87.6%
Maltreatment Type
Physical/ Emotional/ Sexual Abuse
98
9.7%
Neglect
906
89.9%
Delinquent
4
0.4%
Risk Assessment Rating
Low
2
0.2%
Medium
31
2.9%
High
1021
96.9%
Mental Health Referred IR Children
87
7.2%
Average CAFAS Score
74.07
When CAFAS < 60, which domain had sub- score of 30
Parent/ Caregiver
2
100.0%
Moods/ Self- Harm
0
0.0%
Juvenile Justice Referred IR Children
58
4.8%
Type of Adjudication
Undisciplined
25
43.1%
Delinquent
33
56.9%
If Delinquent, Most Serious Offense
Violent
1
3.0%
Serious
18
54.5%
Minor
14
42.4%
Other Criteria ( could mark more than 1)
Violated Supervision/ Probation
23
39.7%
New Charges Filed
14
24.1%
Placed on Level 2 Disposition
28
48.3%
From the data available in SFY 2004, the majority of imminent risk children ( 88%) were referred from a DSS referral source. Most ( 90%) DSS referred imminent risk children had neglect as the primary type of maltreatment substantiated. The majority ( 97%) of these children had a risk rating of “ high.” Recall that the new Policies and Procedures requires that only 1
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 15
child in a family be rated at “ high” risk; other imminent risk children in the family could receive lower risk ratings, but the family would still be eligible for IFPS services. Mental health referred 7% of imminent risk children served. The average CAFAS score for these children was 74. All but two children had a CAFAS score over the required minimum total score of 60, but they all had a parent/ caregiver domain score over 30. The remaining 5% of imminent risk children were referred for services from juvenile justice agencies. The majority ( 57%) of these children were adjudicated delinquent and the remaining 43% were adjudicated undisciplined. For those imminent risk children adjudicated delinquents, 3% committed a violent offense, 55% committed a serious offense, and 42% committed a minor offense. Two- fifths ( 40%) of juvenile justice referred imminent risk children had violated supervision or probation, one- quarter ( 24%) had new charges filed against them and almost half ( 48%) had been placed on level 2 disposition. These data indicate a high degree of compliance with the new IFPS eligibility criteria implemented in SFY 2001.
Service Delivery Information
Table 7 presents regularly collected service delivery information from the 618 families served in SFY 2004. Workers averaged 70 hours of service to each of the families during the typical 6- week service period. About 32 hours, on average, were spent in face- to- face contact with the family. About 12 hours were devoted to client- related travel, 11 hours to administrative tasks and record keeping, and about 16 hours to a combination of case management activities ( including telephone contact, conversations with “ collaterals,” supervision, court time, etc.).
Table 3 reported that 40% of families were experiencing financial hardship and did not have enough money to cover the basic needs of the family. In SFY 2004, IFPS programs provided monetary assistance totaling $ 21,233 to 22% of all families served to alleviate
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 16
emergency crises and stabilize the living situation. This amount averaged $ 158 per family receiving monetary assistance.
Table 7: Service Delivery Information
Service Delivery Information
Number
Percent
Average Number of Hours of:
Face to Face Contact
31.95
Telephone Contact
4.38
Collateral Contact
5.09
Client Related Travel
11.97
Supervision
5.32
Administrative/ Record Keeping
10.89
Miscellaneous Contact
.81
Average Number of Hours of All Case Related Activities
70.40
Families in Need of Monetary Assistance
134
21.7%
Families Provided Monetary Assistance ( of those who needed)
134
100.0%
Total Dollars Families Needed
$ 20,589
Total Dollars Families Provided
$ 21,233
Average Dollars Provided per Family in Need
$ 158
Closure Information
Table 8 presents information collected about families served at the time of case closure. The average IFPS case lasted an average of 39.30 days ( 5.6 weeks). The majority of cases ( 82%) were closed successfully when services were completed. Another 11% of cases were closed after the family moved, the child moved to live with a relative or family friend ( still considered a “ home” placement), the family withdrew, or the family was consistently uncooperative. Only a small percentage of cases ( 6%) were closed due to child placement or the risk to the child was too high and placement was imminent. A total of 38 families ( 6%) experienced the placement of an imminent risk child or children. In the judgement of IFPS workers, sufficient progress was made during the IFPS intervention to permit the children to remain at home in 94% of the families. However, 83% of families were referred to other
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 17
services at the time IFPS services ended to continue to work on issues after the precipitating crisis was stabilized and risks to the child( ren) sufficiently reduced.
Table 8: Case Closure Information
Case Closure Information
Number
Percent
Average Number of Days from Referral to Closure
39.30
Reason Case was Closed
Child Placed
29
4.7%
Risk to Children Too High
5
0.8%
Child Moved ( to live with relative/ family friend)
10
1.6%
Family Moved/ Left Jurisdiction
15
2.4%
Family Withdrew/ Consistently Uncooperative
41
6.6%
Services Completed/ Service Period Ended
507
82.0%
Other Reason
11
1.8%
Imminent Risk Child Living Situation at Closure
Home
1070
88.4%
Relative
76
6.3%
Family Friend
10
0.8%
Social Services
36
3.0%
Mental Health
11
0.9%
Juvenile Justice
4
0.3%
Private Placement
3
0.2%
Other Placement
0
0.0%
Imminent Risk Children Experiencing an Out- of- Home Placement at Closure
54
4.5%
Families Experiencing an Out- of- Home Placement of 1+ Imminent Risk Child( ren)
38
6.1%
Families Referred for Other Services at Closure
509
82.5%
Families Not Accepted/ Appropriate for IFPS
Each year many families are referred for IFPS but not served. Reporting those data to the state is optional; therefore, this information is likely an underestimate of the total number of families that were referred for IFPS. Table 9 presents summary information about these families. In SFY 2004, at least 209 families and 422 imminent risk children were referred for IFPS and not served. The majority of referrals ( 72%) came from county Department of Social Services. Nineteen percent of families were denied services because caseloads were full, and 16% were not served because the family did not meet the referral system eligibility criteria. Thirty- four percent of families were not willing to participate in services. Just over half ( 52%)
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 18
of families that did not receive services were White, 31% were African American, and 7% were other minorities.
Table 9: Families Not Accepted/ Appropriate for IFPS
Families Not Accepted/ Appropriate for IFPS
Number
Percent
Number of Families Referred, but Not Served
209
Reason Families Not Accepted/ Appropriate for IFPS
Caseloads Full
40
19.3%
Unable to Locate within 48 Hours
21
10.1%
Risk too High
2
1.0%
Did Not Meet Referral System Eligibility Criteria
34
16.4%
Family Not Willing to Participate
70
33.8%
Other Reason
40
19.3%
Agency from Which Family Was Referred
DSS
147
72.1%
Mental Health
31
15.2%
Juvenile Justice
19
9.3%
Other Source
7
3.4%
Total Number of Imminent Risk Children Referred and Not Served
422
Average Number of Imminent Risk Children per Family Referred and Not Served
2.05
Family Race
White
100
52.1%
African American
59
30.7%
Other
14
7.3%
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 19
Five Year Trend Analysis
Since the enactment of Senate Bill 141 of the Family Preservation Act of 1991, North Carolina’s IFPS providers have served more than 6500 families. The automated IFPS case record and management information system was implemented in January 1994, and contains detailed information on 6,348 families served. This large database provides highly reliable estimates of program trends since the system has been operating at “ full capacity” for 10.5 years. Findings in this section, unless specifically noted otherwise, relate to the total population of families served in the last five years, SFY 2000 through SFY 2004.
Five- year trend analyses of a number of variables indicate a high degree of stability, and therefore predictability, in a number of areas of interest to IFPS programs, policy executives and the legislature. These analyses also present positive changes to the program where administrative attention has focused on program development.
Number of Families, Caretakers and Children Served
The number of programs offering IFPS services increased significantly in SFY 2001 when IFPS programs were expanded to reach new areas of the state. In the 3 years prior to SFY 2001, the number of programs offering IFPS services varied only slightly ( 22 programs serving between 34 and 38 counties). Currently there are 32 IFPS programs operating and providing services to families in 50 counties throughout the state. Figure 1, next page, presents the number of families, imminent risk children, and total children served annually by IFPS programs. The program has served an average of 633 families per year ( from a low of 563 families in SFY 2000 to a high of 700 families in SFY 2001). The number of imminent risk children served in these families averages 1,175 per year among an average of 1,485 total children served annually.
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 20
Figure 1. Number of Families, Imminent Risk Children and Total Children Served by IFPS Programs563700666618618910133212401184121012371712154314441488020040060080010001200140016001800SFY ' 00SFY ' 01SFY ' 02SFY ' 03SFY ' 04Number of FamiliesNumber of Imminent Risk ChildrenTotal Number of Children
Referral Source
Prior to SFY 2001, the sources of referral remained quite constant: between 54% and 57% have come from DSS, 19% to 21% from MH/ DD/ SAS, 15% to 21% from Juvenile Justice, and only 7% to 8% from all other sources. In SFY 2001 DSS referrals increased to 70% as a result of most expansion programs serving families from DSS referral sources only. Since that time, referrals have again remained fairly constant: between 70% and 80% have come from DSS, 11% to 14% from MH/ DD/ SAS, 8% to 14% from Juvenile Justice, and only 1% to 5% from all other sources ( see Figure 2, next page). The decline in referrals from MH/ DD/ SAS and Juvenile Justice can be attributed to the majority of expansion programs being funded to serve children referred from DSS sources.
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 21
Figure 2. Percent of Families Served by IFPS Referral Source5470758076191114121321141089751110102030405060708090SFY ' 00SFY ' 01SFY ' 02SFY ' 03SFY ' 04Percent of FamiliesDSSMH/ DD/ SASJJOther
Age and Gender of Imminent Risk Children
The distribution of ages of imminent risk children has remained stable throughout the last five years: 28% to 37% have been 0- 5 years of age, 37% to 45% have been 6- 12 years of age, 19% to 23% have been 13- 15 years of age, and 4% to 7% have been 16+ years of age. The gender of imminent risk children has been 44% to 49% female, and 51% to 56% male.
Primary Issues Affecting Families at Referral
Figure 3 presents data on the types of problems affecting families. ( Note that each section of a bar represents the percent of families experiencing a particular problem, and that families may experience multiple problems. Therefore, the bars do not add to 100%, but
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 22
represent the cumulative percentages of families experiencing that problem in a given year). The types of problems affecting families remained quite consistent through SFY 2000. In SFY 2001 new eligibility criteria and imminent risk definitions were implemented, along with a significant expansion of IFPS programs serving DSS referred children, that have shifted the proportion of families experiencing issues in the major problem areas. The major problem areas remain school difficulty, delinquency, family violence, neglect, substance abuse and various types of abuse. Figure 3. Primary Issues Affecting Families at Referral: Percent of Families Experiencing Issue57514441452716171418141818171465636362674757616456191514131227232524202525272526SFY ' 00SFY ' 01SFY ' 02SFY ' 03SFY ' 04School DifficultyDelinquencyPhysical AbuseFam. Conflict/ ViolenceNeglectSexual AbuseAlcohol AbuseOther Drug Abuse
The proportion of families experiencing problems of physical abuse, family conflict or violence, and substance abuse have remained fairly constant. However, significant declines can be noted in the proportion of families presenting with problems with school, delinquency or sexual abuse. There has been a marked increase in the proportion of families presenting with the
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 23
problem of neglect. These shifts can be accounted for by the increase in families served from DSS referral sources as well as an increase in the number of families receiving “ high” ratings on the family risk assessment.
Monetary Assistance
Lack of financial resources is a major stressor for IFPS families. This variable is not rated on the area of the case record that contributes to the “ problem areas” presented in Figure 3, so these data are not part of that Figure. However, IFPS workers identify about 1/ 3 ( between 34% and 42%) of IFPS families annually as “ being without sufficient incomes to meet their basic needs.” Figure 4. Percent of Families Needing and Receiving Monetary Assistance from IFPS2019182322979599991000102030405060708090100SFY ' 00SFY ' 01SFY ' 02SFY ' 03SFY ' 04Percent of FamiliesNeeding Monetary AssistanceReceiving Monetary Assistance
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 24
Figure 4 illustrates that the number of families identified as needing monetary assistance has remained fairly constant over the last 5 years, ranging from 18% to 23% of families ( not all families with insufficient incomes are so identified). The percent of families receiving assistance ( of those who needed assistance) has also remained constant, at 95% to 100% per year.
The provision of monetary resources to these families is an area that has fluctuated greatly over the past five years. Figure 5 illustrates these changes. The amount of money devoted to providing monetary assistance to families in need by IFPS programs was at a high of $ 25,626 in SFY 2003 and at a low of $ 9,229 in SFY 2000. The reasons for these fluctuations from year to year are not known. The five- year average of total dollars provided to families in need is $ 16,902 per year. Figure 5. Total Dollars Provided as Monetary Assistance to Needy IFPS Families$ 9,229$ 16,936$ 11,484$ 25,626$ 21,233$- $ 5,000$ 10,000$ 15,000$ 20,000$ 25,000$ 30,000SFY ' 00SFY ' 01SFY ' 02SFY ' 03SFY ' 04
5 year average = $ 16,902/ year
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 25
The fact that monetary assistance is available to IFPS families does not imply that IFPS is an alternative “ welfare” type program. On the contrary, of the 626 families ( SFY 2000 through SFY 2004) that have received monetary assistance as part of their IFPS service plan received an average of $ 135. Rather than resembling a welfare payment, these small amounts of money are a deliberate and focused attempt to alleviate a particular family stressor ( e. g., repair of a car or needed appliance, restoration of electricity or telephone service to the home, provide a social or recreational activity intended to enhance family relations).
Race of Imminent Risk Children
The race of children served by IFPS providers is a variable where substantial changes have occurred since the automated IFPS case record and management information system was Figure 6. Race of Imminent Risk Children in Families Receiving IFPS615453515133343335714131614320102030405060708090100SFY ' 00SFY ' 01SFY ' 02SFY ' 03SFY ' 04Percent of Imminent Risk ChildrenWhiteAfrican AmericanOther North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 26
implemented in January 1994. Figure 6 illustrates an interesting pattern for African American and other minority children served by the IFPS program over the past five years.
Since SFY 1997 ( not shown), when the proportion of African American children served increased to 34% ( from 25% the previous year), variations in the racial distribution of African American children served have been small ( varying from 32% to 35% over the past five years). However, since SFY 2001 there has been a significant increase in the percentage of other minority children served by IFPS programs to an all time high of 16% in SFY 2003. This change is accounted for by a statistically significant decrease in the percent of white children served to an all time low of 51% in SFY 2003 and SFY 2004.
Expansion funds were given to DSS during SFY 2001 to expand IFPS throughout North Carolina. The Division focused on expanding IFPS in areas of the state with the highest placement rates. Historically, minority children have been over- represented in the child welfare population. Thus, if successful, the expansion strategy should have resulted in the delivery of IFPS services to larger segments of the minority populations. Data suggest that this strategy was successful. The large majority of children served through IFPS in expansion counties during SFY 2001, SFY 2002, SFY 2003 and SFY 2004 were minority, ranging from 45% to 50% African American and 15% to 20% other minority ( including American Indian, Hispanic, Asian and multi- racial) children.
Placement of Imminent Risk Children
Another important finding emerged in the trend analysis that relates broadly to the entire child welfare system: even if children are placed out of home at the end of IFPS services, the program data reveal a statistically significant shift in the level of care needed by those children. Presented in Table 10, these data show that three- quarters ( 75%) of the children at risk of
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 27
placement into Mental Health/ Developmental Disabilities/ Substance Abuse Services and half ( 50%) of the children at risk of placement into Juvenile Justice facilities at referral, and who are ultimately placed out of home, are placed in those types of facilities. Fourteen percent of those children “ placed” who were originally at risk of MH/ DD/ SAS placement were able to be placed in foster care. Twenty percent of children at risk of Juvenile Justice placement were served in foster care, and an additional 3% at risk of Juvenile Justice placement were placed, instead, in MH/ DD/ SAS facilities, presumably because they were found to need these services rather than incarceration. On the other hand, 79% of the children who were originally at risk of placement into foster care, and who were placed, were placed in that system. A small number ( 5%) of these children were found during IFPS to need MH/ DD/ SAS services, and an even smaller number ( 3%) were found to need more restrictive Juvenile Justice placement. These differences in placement outcomes, when compared to risk of placement at referral, are highly statistically significant ( Chi Square = 314.303; df = 12; p<. 001).
Table 10. Risk of System Placement of Imminent Risk Children at Referral Compared to
Living Arrangement After IFPS, For Children Who Were Placed in Out- Of- Home Care, SFY 2000 through SFY 2004
Living Arrangement After IFPS
Risk of System Placement at Referral
Count
Column %
Social
Services
Mental
Health
Juvenile
Justice
Private
Placement
Row
Total
Social
Services
222
79.3%
5
13.9%
6
20.0%
0
0.0%
233
66.2%
Mental
Health
15
5.4%
27
75.0%
1
3.3%
0
0.0%
43
12.2%
Juvenile
Justice
7
2.5%
2
5.6%
15
50.0%
0
0.0%
24
6.8%
Private
Placement
15
5.4%
0
0.0%
4
13.3%
5
83.3%
24
6.8%
Other
Placement
21
7.5%
2
5.6%
4
13.3%
1
16.7%
28
8.0%
Column Total
Row %
280
79.5%
36
10.2%
30
8.5%
6
1.7%
352
100.0%
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 28
Family Functioning: North Carolina Family Assessment Scale
During the spring of SFY 1994- 95, the North Carolina Family Assessment Scale ( NCFAS) was implemented as a formal part of the IFPS case process and record keeping system. The NCFAS was developed by staff at the Jordan Institute for Families in cooperation with a working group of North Carolina IFPS providers, and is based on a compilation of several assessment instruments used in North Carolina, Michigan, California, and elsewhere.
The development and implementation of the NCFAS has been discussed in previous reports. The report for SFY 1999 discussed the validation study conducted in 1997 and 1998, and the revisions to the NCFAS that resulted in Version 2.0. The complete reliability and validity study has also been published in the professional literature ( Research on Social Work Practice, Volume 11, Number 4, July 2001, pages 503- 520). The NCFAS V2.0 was implemented statewide on July 1, 1999, and data are now available for 5 full years of service delivery. Therefore, findings in this section relate to the total population of families served in the last five years, SFY 2000, SFY 2001, SFY 2002, SFY 2003 and SFY 2004.
The NCFAS provides information on family functioning in a variety of areas relevant to the typical IFPS family, and provides pre- service and post- service information in order to measure change that occurs during the IFPS service period. Changes in family functioning that occur during this period are related to stressors impacting families, which in turn, impact their ability to remain united at the end of the service period.
The NCFAS examines five broad areas of interest and a number of more specific sub- areas. The broad areas, referred to as domains, include: Environment, Parental Capabilities, Family Interactions, Family Safety, and Child Well- Being. Each of these domains comprises a series of sub- scales. For example, the domain of Environment includes sub- scales on housing
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 29
stability, safety in the community, habitability of housing, income/ employment, financial management capability, adequacy of food and nutrition, personal hygiene, availability of transportation, and the “ learning” environment.
Assessments are made by IFPS workers at the beginning of the service period and again at the conclusion of service. The data of interest include both the absolute ratings at intake and closure and the change scores derived between the two assessment periods. For example, if a family received a rating of “- 2” on the Environment domain at the beginning of service and received a “+ 1” at the end of service, the change score is + 3, indicating movement of three scale increments in the positive direction. The change score is derived independently from the actual position of the scores on the scale; that is, a change from “ 0” to “+ 2” is considered to be of the same magnitude as a change from “- 3” to “- 1”, or + 2 in both cases. This strategy is deliberate in that the change scores may indicate a meaningful change in the status of the family, or of the trajectory of the family ( i. e., deterioration to improvement), while at the same time acknowledging that not all problems can be resolved completely during a brief intervention.
Figures 7 through 11 present the aggregate intake and closure ratings for the 5 domains on the NCFAS V2.0. The findings from the NCFAS 2.0 are quite consistent with expectations, based on the results of the reliability and validity study.
Beginning with Figure 7, next page, it can be seen that the majority of families do not enter services with problem ratings in the area of Environment. Fifty- three percent of families are rated as being at “ Baseline/ Adequate or above” at intake. At closure, three quarters ( 74%) of families are “ Baseline/ Adequate or above.” Families not rated as having environmental issues to resolve at intake also are not likely to have case plans focusing on those issues. However, there was substantial movement of the aggregate data towards the positive end of the scale: the
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 30
proportion of families rated as having serious environmental problems was reduced from 11% to 4%, and those rated as having moderate problems were reduced from 17% to 9%. Figure 7. Environment Ratings at Intake and Closure ( N= 3158) 12202119171117322514940510152025303540Clear S. Mild S. Baseline A. Mild P. Moderate P. Serious P. Percent of FamiliesIntakeClosure
The Parental Capabilities domain on NCFAS V2. focuses specifically on parenting skills or circumstances that may affect a person’s ability to parent. This domain exhibits a pattern of marked change in families as a result of receiving IFPS services. These data are presented in Figure 8, next page. At Intake, 70% of families are rated in the “ problem” range, with nearly half of families ( 44%) rated in the “ Moderate to Serious” range. After services, three fifths ( 63%) are rated as “ Baseline/ Adequate or above.”
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 31
Figure 8. Parental Capabilities Ratings at Intake and Closure ( N= 3158) 2101926281672927201250510152025303540Clear S. Mild S. Baseline A. Mild P. Moderate P. Serious P. Percent of FamiliesIntakeClosureFigure 9. Family Interactions Ratings at Intake and Closure ( N= 3158) 312212523169292620124- 510152025303540Clear S. Mild S. Baseline A. Mild P. Moderate P. Serious P. Percent of FamiliesIntakeClosure North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 32
The Family Interactions domain is largely unchanged from the previous NCFAS version, and the domains’ detection of change in this area remains strong. Fully 64% of families are rated in the “ problem” range at intake on their interaction patterns and behavior, but only 36% are still rated in the “ problem” range at closure. These data are presented in Figure 9, previous page. Figure 10. Family Safety Ratings at Intake and Closure ( N= 3158) 8132324181217283114830510152025303540Clear S. Mild S. Baseline A. Mild P. Moderate P. Serious P. Percent of FamiliesIntakeClosure
The domain of Family Safety is very important, as child safety is the chief concern in IFPS interventions, and is also paramount in making the “ placement/ no placement” recommendation at the end of service. The data gathered on the families served relating to this domain show shifts in Family Safety similar to shifts observed in Family Interactions and Parental Capabilities. These data are presented in Figure 10, above. More than half of families
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 33
( 54%) are rated in the “ problem” range at intake; this proportion is reduced to a quarter ( 25%) at the time of case closure.
The final domain of assessment on the NCFAS is Child Well- Being. These data are presented in Figure 11, below. Figure 11. Child Well- Being Ratings at Intake and Closure ( N= 3158) 392025251792829171240510152025303540Clear S. Mild S. Baseline A. Mild P. Moderate P. Serious P. Percent of FamiliesIntakeClosure
The assessed changes in Child Well- Being are large, and are consistent with previous assessment efforts on this domain. The large majority ( 67%) of families are rated as having problems in this area at the beginning of service. In fact, almost half of families ( 42%) are rated as having a “ Moderate to Serious” problem. This is not altogether surprising since Child Well- Being issues, along with Family Safety Issues are likely to be the issues that bring the family to the attention of the referring agency in the first place. However, at the close of services, about
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 34
three fifths ( 66%) of families are at “ Baseline/ Adequate or above,” and about one third ( 37%) are rated in the “ strengths” range.
Taken as a whole, the ratings on the NCFAS domains reflect the capacity of the IFPS programs to influence parental skills, safety, interaction patterns and behavior, and child well- being to a substantial degree. Changes on environmental factors, while evident, are less dramatic. This is due, at least in part, to the lower level of need recorded on this domain. These findings, coupled with the low placement rates in the treatment population, contribute to the concurrent validity of the NCFAS V2.0.
The aggregate data presented in the preceding figures indicate the “ population” shifts following receipt of IFPS services, but do not indicate the degree of change in individual families. To examine individual family change requires the analysis of the change scores derived on each domain for each family in the cohort. The specific changes that occurred on each of the domains for the 3,158 families served during the last five years are presented in Table 11, below.
Table 11. Level of Change Experienced by Families on Each Domain of the North Carolina Family Assessment Scale During IFPS
Level of Change Per Family ( Percent of Families)
N= 3,158
Domain
- 1
or more
0
( no change)
+ 1
+ 2
+ 3
or more
Environment
3.8%
51.8%
28.5%
10.5%
5.4%
Parental Capabilities
3.2%
30.9%
39.9%
17.0%
9.1%
Family Interactions
3.5%
35.9%
36.6%
15.0%
9.0%
Family Safety
3.2%
40.0%
32.4%
15.1%
9.3%
Child Well- Being
2.9%
32.9%
36.4%
16.6%
11.1%
These same data are presented graphically in Figure 12, next page. It can be seen in the graph that about half of families ( 52%) do not change on the domain of Environment, but that
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 35
approximately 1/ 2 to 2/ 3 of all families improve on the remaining domains: Parental Capabilities, Family Interactions, Family Safety and Child Well- Being. Most of the improvement recorded is incremental (+ 1 or + 2 scale intervals), although 5%- 11% of all families improved 3 or more scale intervals. Because the NCFAS employs a 6- point scale, ranging from “ serious problem” to “ clear strength”, a 3- point shift during a brief intervention is very large. Note also that a few families ( 3%- 4%, depending on the domain) deteriorate during IFPS services. Deterioration on any domain significantly increases the likelihood of placement at the end of service. Figure 12. Level of Change Experienced by Families on NCFAS Domain Scores ( N= 3158) 452291153314017943637159340321593333617110102030405060- 1 or more0123 or morePercent of FamiliesEnvironmentParental CapabilitiesFamily InteractionsFamily SafetyChild Well- Being
Figure 13 shows the percent of families rated at “ Baseline/ Adequate or above” at intake and closure. Each “ intake/ closure” comparison indicates substantial positive change in the
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 36
population of families served, although approximately one quarter to one third of families remain below baseline ( i. e., in the problem range of ratings) on one or more domain at the time of case closure. Figure 13. Overall Change on the NCFAS ( N= 3158) 543136453274636475660102030405060708090100EnvironmentParentalCapabilitiesFamilyInteractionsFamily SafetyChild Well- BeingPercent of FamiliesBaseline or Above @ IntakeBaseline or Above @ Closure
Compelling changes in domain score ratings are noted on all five domains. While the movement that families experience on the NCFAS ratings during IFPS services is interesting in its own right, it is more meaningful when the changes in the scale scores are related to other treatment outcomes. Of particular interest is the relationship between NCFAS scores and placement prevention of imminent risk children.
When the closure scores on the NCFAS are cross tabulated with placement a positive, statistically significant relationship is observed between strengths and the absence of placement,
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 37
and between problems and out- of- home placement on all domains. On each of the domains, families in the “ baseline/ adequate to strengths” range at IFPS service closure are statistically over represented among families that remain intact. Similarly, at the end of service, families in the problem ranges at IFPS service closure are statistically over represented in families where an out- of- home placement of an imminent risk child occurred during or after IFPS service. The strength of these relationships is quite compelling. For the 3,158 families served during SFY 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004, the results are:
• for Environment: Chi Square = 116.686, df = 5, p=<. 001;
• for Parental Capabilities: Chi Square = 191.515, df = 5, p<. 001;
• for Family Interactions: Chi Square = 203.858, df = 5, p<. 001;
• for Family Safety: Chi Square = 246.710, df = 5, p<. 001; and
• for Child Well- Being: Chi Square = 233.330, df = 5, p<. 001.
These results indicate that IFPS interventions are capable of improving family functioning across all the measured domains, albeit incrementally, and these improvements in family functioning are statistically associated with placement prevention. These are important findings to IFPS providers, administrators, policy executives and the legislature, not only in North Carolina, but also throughout the country. They are important because the “ prevention” of these placements is linked to measurable changes in family skills, strengths, circumstances, support, interaction patterns and a variety of other factors that comprise “ family functioning.”
It should be noted that these statistical relationships are obtained even though the number of children who are placed out of home at the end of IFPS service is very small, and placement decisions may be influenced by a variety of factors outside the control of IFPS programs. Both of these factors tend to mitigate the strength of the statistical relationships, yet they remain strong.
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 38
It is noteworthy that most families, regardless of their intake ratings across all five domains, improve only incrementally on two or three domains. Indeed, families may remain in the “ problem” ranges on one or more domains, even after IFPS. It should not be surprising that families do not change on all domains, because families are not likely to have service plans that focus on all domains.
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 39
Retrospective Study of the Effectiveness of IFPS
Session Law 1999- 237 required the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Social Services, to develop a revised evaluation model for current and expanded IFPS Programs. The evaluation was to be scientifically rigorous, including the use of treatment control groups, to include a review and description of interventions provided to families as compared to customary services provided to other child welfare families and children, and to collect data regarding the number and type of referrals made for other human services and the utilization of those services. In light of the session law, the Division deemed it appropriate to conduct a study.
The original retrospective study was funded during SFY 2000 and a comprehensive report was produced, titled: A Retrospective Evaluation of North Carolina’s Intensive Family Preservation Services Program available at http:// ssw. unc. edu/ jif/ publications/ reports. html. A more advanced statistical treatment of that study has recently been published [ see: Kirk, R. S. & Griffith, D. P. ( 2004). Intensive family preservation services: Demonstrating placement prevention using event history analysis. Social Work Research, 28( 1), 5- 15.] As noted previously in this report, SFY 2001 was marked by an expansion of IFPS programs as well as changes in the Policies and Procedures to ensure that IFPS services are delivered to the highest risk families. In light of the encouraging findings from the original retrospective study, the state also expanded its evaluation activities to include an on- going retrospective evaluation of North Carolina’s families. SFY 2004 marks the fourth year of this on- going retrospective evaluation.
The research model continues to employ a retrospective examination of the population of families that did and did not receive IFPS. This approach continues to be preferable to other designs because it avoids the problems of using prospective, randomized assignment to
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 40
experimental and control groups; a problem experienced by other researchers that has likely contributed to their inability to detect the treatment effects of IFPS ( Kirk & Griffith, 2004).
The retrospective design requires the merger of data from several statewide information systems for DSS referred families. These data sources include the IFPS- specific information residing in the IFPS MIS, the CPS risk assessment information residing in the North Carolina Central Registry database, and the child placement information residing in the Child Placement and Payment System. The study population in SFY 2004 includes all families receiving their first IFPS intervention between July 1, 1994 and December 31, 2002. The comparison population includes all other families in North Carolina in counties offering IFPS services with a child who experienced their first substantiated report after July 1, 1993 and before December 31, 2002. The comparison families had not received IFPS services. The end of the tracking period is limited to December 31, 2003 because this is latest date for which the necessary one- year placement data is available in the timeframe necessary to conduct this study. Only families rated as “ high” on the standardized CPS risk assessment are retained for the study. The study sample includes 1612 high- risk families that received IFPS, and the comparison group includes 21,786 high- risk families in IFPS counties that did not receive IFPS services.
For families receiving IFPS services, the substantiated report closest in time, and before referral to IFPS, is selected as the report linked to the family IFPS intervention. For comparison families with more than one substantiated report in the study period, the substantiated report linked to the family is selected randomly in proportion to the substantiated report number that is linked to the IFPS intervention for IFPS families. The outcome measure of interest, “ time to placement”, is computed from the date of referral to IFPS for IFPS families, and from the date the substantiated report was made for the comparison families. Further, any variable presented
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 41
based on the “ prior” occurrence of an event is calculated from the same reference date as “ time to placement”.
Generally speaking, the retrospective study and the on- going retrospective evaluation conducted in previous years revealed that IFPS outperformed traditional child welfare services when the comparison groups included the high- risk families that IFPS is intended to impact. In fact, the more risk factors present in any comparison ( e. g., high- risk families that had experienced previous out- of- home placements and also had two or more prior substantiated reports) the more effective was IFPS when compared to traditional services. In each case when risk factors were controlled, IFPS resulted in lower initial placement rates and delayed placement patterns following service completion. Conversely, when risk factors were not controlled during the analyses, IFPS did not always outperform traditional services. The placement rates and patterns evident in the survival curves used to analyze the data suggest that secondary interventions or additional services should be offered at 3 to 5 months post- IFPS in those cases that concluded without a placement being made. The results of the study strongly supported the continued use and expansion of IFPS with respect to high- risk families.
The data suggest that disproportionately more serious types of families are being referred for IFPS services. Specifically, IFPS families are more than twice as likely to have experienced one or more prior substantiated reports ( 40.5% to 19.7%, chi- square = 389.206, df = 1, p < .001), and IFPS families are almost three times more likely to have experienced one or more prior high risk substantiated reports ( 17.3% to 6.9%, chi- square = 229.511, df = 1, p < .001). Further, IFPS families are three times more likely to have experienced one or more prior spells under placement authority ( 6.6% to 2.1%, chi- square = 128.168, df = 1, p < .001). The fact that IFPS providers serve the highest risk cases in counties that offer the service makes it that much more
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 42
compelling that positive treatment outcomes are observed for IFPS families. The analyses that follow will demonstrate the positive treatment effects of IFPS as well as demonstrate that when risk factors are controlled for, the IFPS treatment effect becomes even more dramatic.
Event history analysis, or survival analysis, is employed to assess differences in placement patterns for families in this study. This analytic technique is desirable because it is able to account for the dynamic nature of time. Rather than calculating the difference in placement rates at the end of a one- year follow- up period, survival analysis computes the relative risk of placement over time. This technique allows for changes in the rate of placement to be observed over time. The following series of survival curves display the positive treatment effect of IFPS on both the prevention and the delaying of placements following cases of substantiated maltreatment.
Figures 14 through 20 display curves depicting the probability of placement ( determined by performing the computation ‘ 1 – survival rate’). Each figure displays the proportion of children being placed out- of home within one year from the date the family was referred to IFPS for families receiving IFPS, or within one year from the date of the substantiated report for families in the comparison group. The higher the curve goes during the measurement period, the worse the placement outcomes for the population represented in the curve. Thus, “ up” is undesirable.
Figure 14 shows that the families receiving IFPS have significantly lower placement rates than non- IFPS families, and that these reduced placement rates hold through 365 days ( Wilcoxon = 14.214, df = 1, p < .001). This figure displays the dramatic reduction in placement rates for families receiving IFPS for the first 6 months. Although the placement rates between the two groups becomes more similar approaching the one year mark, only 24.1% of IFPS families
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 43
experience a placement by one year, compared to 26.1% of non- IFPS families. In the original retrospective study and the on- going retrospective evaluation in SFY 2001, the placement rates for IFPS and non- IFPS families were the same at one year. In SFY 2002 there was a 1.6% difference in the placement rates for these two groups. In 2003 it increased to 2.4%. This year the difference is 2.0%. This figure demonstrates the ongoing effectiveness of IFPS at reducing or delaying the out- of- home placement of an imminent risk child within a small range of annual fluctuations.
Figure 14. Risk of Placement After CPS Report/ Referral to IFPS 060120180240300360420Time in Days0.00.10.20.30.4nonIFPSIFPSproportion placed out- of- home
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 44
Figure 15 displays the survival curves for IFPS and non- IFPS families that have had one or more prior spells under placement authority. When prior placement authority is controlled in the analysis, IFPS statistically significantly reduces the rate at which children enter out- of- home placements ( Wilcoxon= 14.147, df= 1, p<. 001). At 365 days, only 25.5% of IFPS families have experienced a placement compared to 41.8% of non- IFPS families.
Figure 15. Risk of Placement After CPS Report/ Referral to IFPS for Children with
1+ Prior Spells Under Placement Authority 060120180240300360420Time in Days0.00.10.20.30.40.5nonIFPSIFPSproportion placed out- of- home
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 45
Figure 16 displays the survival curves for IFPS and non- IFPS families that have had one or more prior substantiated reports. When prior substantiated reports are controlled in the analysis, IFPS statistically significantly reduces the rate at which children enter out- of- home placements ( Wilcoxon= 38.677, df = 1, p<. 001). At 365 days, only 24.8% of IFPS families have experienced a placement compared to 34.3% of non- IFPS families. It can be seen from the curve that the observed treatment effect of IFPS is greatest until about 240 days, at which time it essentially parallels traditional child welfare service programs but maintaining a 10% lower placement rate throughout the remainder of the 365 day measurement period.
Figure 16. Risk of Placement After CPS Report/ Referral to IFPS for Children with
1+ Prior Substantiations of Abuse/ Neglect
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 46
060120180240300360Time in Days0.00.10.20.30.4nonIFPSIFPSproportion placed out of home Figure 17 displays the survival curves for IFPS and non- IFPS families that have had one or more prior high- risk substantiated reports. When prior high- risk substantiated reports is controlled in the analysis, IFPS statistically significantly reduces the rate at which children enter out- of- home placements ( Wilcoxon= 20.289, df= 1, p<. 001). At 365 days, only 28.0% of IFPS families have experienced a placement compared to 38.3% of non- IFPS families. This picture displays a very similar pattern to that in Figure 16 in that the observed treatment effect of IFPS is greatest until about 240 days. After this point, the curves are essentially parallel, with IFPS outperforming non- IFPS services by about 10- 12%.
Figure 17. Risk of Placement After CPS Report/ Referral to IFPS for Children with
1+ Prior High Risk Substantiations of Abuse/ Neglect
060120180240300360420Time in Days0.00.10.20.30.40.5nonIFPSIFPSproportion placed out- of- home North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 47
These curves demonstrate that when the risk factors are accounted for in both the treatment and comparison groups, IFPS statistically significantly outperforms traditional child welfare services in every case by reducing the number of placements and/ or delaying placements at 365 days. Further, these treatment effects are even larger at 180 days.
Figure 18. Risk of Placement After CPS Report/ Referral to IFPS for Children Receiving Traditional CW Services by Race 060120180240300360420Time in Days0.00.10.20.30.4whitenon- whiteproportion placed out- of- home
Figures 18 thru 20 present a special survival analysis aimed at examining the effectiveness of IFPS at mitigating racial differences in the placement patterns of high- risk children. Figure 18 shows that among families receiving traditional child welfare services, non- white children have a higher risk of placement than white children ( 29.4% to 24.4% at 365
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 48
days). This difference is statistically significant ( Wilcoxon= 40.027, df = 1, p < .001). Figure 19, however, displays a very different racial picture for families receiving IFPS services. Non- white children who receive IFPS services appear to be less likely to be placed than white children who receive IFPS services ( 21.6% to 25.7% at 365 days).
Figure 19. Risk of Placement After CPS Report/ Referral to IFPS for Children Receiving IFPS Services By Race 060120180240300360420Time in Days0.00.10.20.30.4whitenon- whiteproportion placed out- of- home
This difference is statistically significant ( Wilcoxon= 4.716, df = 1, p < .05), the results indicating that IFPS may be instrumental in mitigating the racial disparity that exists in the rest of the child welfare population that received traditional services. The difference between the placement rates of non- white children who receive and do not receive IFPS is statistically significant ( Wilcoxon= 25.406, df = 1, p < .001). This difference can be seen in Figure 20, which
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 49
illustrates that throughout the first year after service the placement rate for non- white children receiving IFPS is 6% to 12% lower than the non- white children who receive traditional child welfare services.
Figure 20. Risk of Placement After CPS Report/ Referral to IFPS for
Non- White Children 060120180240300360420Time in Days0.00.10.20.30.4nonIFPSIFPSproportion placed out- of- home
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 50
Cost- Effectiveness, Cost/ Benefit Analysis
The following analysis is based upon true costs of operating the IFPS program during SFY 2004 and estimated placement costs provided by the Division of Social Services ( DSS), the Division of Mental Health/ Developmental Disabilities/ Substance Abuse Services ( MH/ DD/ SAS), and the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention ( Juvenile Justice).
During SFY 2004there were 1,210 children identified as being at imminent risk of placement into DSS foster care, MH/ DD/ SAS facilities, or Juvenile Justice facilities. Table 12 presents a breakdown of the number of children at risk of placement, and the number of children actually placed in care or not living at home.
Table 12. Children At Risk of Out- Of- Home Placement at Intake.
Potential Placement Type
Number of Children At Risk of Out- Of- Home Placement
Number of Children Placed or Not Living At Home
DSS Foster Care
1064
36
Juvenile Justice
63
4
Mental Health
73
11
Developmental Disabilities
2
0
Substance Abuse Services
0
0
Private Placement
8
3
Other
NA
0
Totals
1,210
54
For purposes of the analysis, MH/ DD/ SAS and Private Placements ( which are almost always psychiatric placements) are combined to determine the potential costs and cost savings of the IFPS program. Table 13 presents those estimated potential costs and estimated actual costs of placements.
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 51
Table 13. Estimated Potential and Estimated Actual Costs of Placements for SFY 2004
Estimated Potential Placement Costs
Estimated Actual Placement Costs
Placement
Type
# of
Children
At Risk
Placement
Costs4
Total
# of Children Placed
Placement
Costs
Total
DSS FC1
1064
$ 3,980
$ 4,234,720
36
$ 3,980
$ 143,280
MH/ DD/ SAS2
83
37,774
3,135,242
14
37,774
528,836
Juvenile Justice3
63
52,455
3,304,665
4
52,455
209,820
Column Total
1,210
$ 10,674,627
54
$ 881,936
1 DSS out of home placement costs were obtained from Division of Social Services, Family Support and Child Welfare Services
Section.
2 Mental Health/ Developmental Disabilities/ Substance Abuse placement costs were obtained from Division of MH/ DD/ SAS.
3 Juvenile Justice placement costs were obtained from the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
4 Average placement costs were not available from all Departments at the time of analysis and report production. This analysis uses SFY 2003 figures. As a result, placement cost estimates are likely to be slightly under estimated, as are cost- effectiveness estimates and cost/ benefit estimates. That is, IFPS is likely to be slightly more cost effective and cost/ beneficial that reflected in this analysis.
Following are the cost- effectiveness and cost/ benefit statistics for the IFPS program during SFY 2003:
• 1,210 children were at imminent risk of removal, at a total potential placement cost of $ 10,674,627;
• 54 children were actually placed in various, known placements at an estimated cost of $ 881,963;
• IFPS diverted an estimated maximum of $ 9,792,691 from placement costs; a gross cost savings of 91.74%;
• if the cost of operating the IFPS program ($ 3,808,331) is subtracted from the gross savings ($ 9,792,691), a net savings of $ 5,984,360 results;
• the cost/ benefit ratio of IFPS for SFY 2003 is $ 1.57; that is, for every $ 1.00 spent providing IFPS, an additional $ 1.57 is not being spent on placement services for imminent risk children who would otherwise be assumed to be placed in out- of- home care;
• the cost of delivering IFPS in SFY 2003 was $ 3,147 per imminent risk child, and $ 6,162 per family;
• had all 1,210 imminent risk children been placed as originally indicated, the average placement cost would have been $ 8,822 per imminent risk child, and the families would not have received any services as part of these expenditures.
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 52
Table 14 presents a way of analyzing the costs and cost savings of IFPS that addresses the “ fiscal break- even point” of operating the program. This is a useful analysis because some program critics contend that not all children who are identified as being at imminent risk would eventually go into placement, even if they did not receive IFPS. They contend that traditional methods of presenting cost savings are misleading. Table 14 presents costs and cost savings at different levels of placement prevention, and demonstrates that the IFPS program is cost effective and results in a very high cost/ benefit ratio.
The left- most column presents different levels of placement prevention; the other columns present the true costs of the program, the estimated placement costs avoided, and the net cost or cost saving of operating the IFPS program.
Table 14. Determining the Estimated Fiscal “ Break- Even” Point of the IFPS Program: Cost and
Cost- Savings Resulting from Different Levels of Child Placement Prevention
Placement Prevention Rates
Cost of Providing IFPS in SFY 2003
Placement Costs Avoided
Net Additional Cost or Cost Savings
100%
$ 3,808,331
$ 10,674,627
$ 6,866,296 savings
SFY ‘ 04 @ 95.5%
3,808,331
9,792,691
5,984,360 savings
90%
3,808,331
9,607,164
5,798,833 savings
80%
3,808,331
8,539,702
4,731,371 savings
70%
3,808,331
7,472,239
3,663,908 savings
60%
3,808,331
6,404,776
2,596,445 savings
50%
3,808,331
5,337,314
1,528,983 savings
40%
3,808,331
4,269,851
461,520 savings
35.67648%
3,808,331
3,808,331
0 break even point
30%
3,808,331
3,202,388
< 605,943> add’l. cost
20%
3,808,331
2,134,925
< 1,673,406> add’l. cost
10%
3,808,331
1,067,463
< 2,740,868> add’l. cost
0%
3,808,331
0
< 3,808,331> add’l. cost
This table is adapted from a method developed by the Center for the Study of Social Policy ( CSSP, Working Paper FP- 6, 1989).
The two shaded rows of data from Table 14 illustrate that the “ fiscal break- even point” for IFPS occurs at about the 36% ( 35.67648%) placement prevention rate, whereas the IFPS program actually performed at a 95.5% placement prevention rate in SFY 2004. This yields a
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 53
range of 59.8% ( between the 35.7% “ break- even” point and the 95.5% “ performance” rate) of children served within which program critics can argue about the cost effectiveness of the program and the cost/ benefit produced. However, the data clearly demonstrate that the program is very cost effective.
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 54
Summary of Major Findings from the Outcome- Focused Evaluation of North Carolina’s Intensive Family Preservation Services Program
♦ Intensive Family Preservation Services are able to improve family functioning in all areas measured by the NCFAS.
♦ Some areas of family functioning ( e. g., Parental Capabilities, Family Interactions, Family Safety, Child Well- Being) are more amenable to change during a brief intervention than other areas ( e. g., Environment).
♦ Family functioning scores on all domains, as measured on the NCFAS, are statistically significantly associated with placement and non- placement at the end of IFPS. This finding supports concurrent validity of the NCFAS.
♦ Overall, placement prevention rates have been very stable, ranging between 88% and 94% of families each year since SFY 1994.
♦ In addition to placement prevention, IFPS services are statistically significantly associated with reductions in the “ level or care” needed among those children who are placed at the end of IFPS services.
♦ The retrospective study continues to demonstrate the clear superiority of IFPS over traditional services when risk factors are controlled or accounted for in the analysis.
♦ Retrospective study survival curves indicate a predictable attrition phenomenon among IFPS families that occurs by 6 months after IFPS. Follow- up services implemented as a result of this finding are providing additional family contact and opportunity for additional services that will hopefully reduce this attrition. These data will be available for analysis in the late spring of SFY 2005.
♦ Further inspection of placement rates bolsters last year’s finding that IFPS may be useful in addressing racial disparities in service outcomes that exist in the child welfare population.
♦ IFPS program cost analysis indicates that IFPS is a very cost- effective program. It also revealed a very favorable cost/ benefit ratio.
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 55
APPENDIX A
Intensive Family Preservation Services Provider List
Provider
Contact Person
Counties Served
Departments of Social Services
Cabarrus Co. DSS
1303 S. Cannon Blvd.
Concord, NC 28083
Cathy Rucker
( 704) 920- 1523
Fax: ( 704) 255- 5260
Cabarrus
Catawba Co. DSS
PO Box 669
Newton, NC 28658
Charlotte Rorie
( 828) 261- 2517
Fax: ( 828) 328- 4729
Catawba
Cleveland Co. DSS
1235- 1 Fallston Rd.
Shelby, NC 28151
* Managed by AFI
Kim Reel
( 704) 471- 2444
Fax ( 704) 471- 2515
Cleveland
Gaston Co. DSS
330 N. Marietta St.
Gastonia, NC 28052
Penny Plyler
( 704) 862- 7989
Fax: ( 704) 862- 7885
Gaston
Iredell Co. DSS
PO Box 1146
Statesville, NC 28687
* Managed by AFI
Brenda Caldwell
( 828) 433- 7187
Fax: ( 828) 437- 8329
Iredell
Area Mental Health Programs *
Centerpointe Area MH/ DD/ SAS
836 Oak St. Suite 100
Winston- Salem, NC 27101
Marya Maxwell
( 336) 607- 8595
Fax: ( 336) 607- 8564
Davie, Forsyth, Stokes
Cumberland Area MH/ DD/ SAS
711 Executive Pl.
Fayetteville, NC 28302
Rodney Benn
( 910) 323- 2311
Fax: ( 910) 323- 9183
Contracts # 1& 2 - Cumberland
Foothills Area MH/ DD/ SAS
486 Spaulding Rd.
Marion, NC 28752
Jim Hamilton
( 828) 652- 5444
Fax: ( 828) 652- 7257
Alexander, Burke, Caldwell
Piedmont Behavioral Health Care
1305 S. Cannon Blvd.
Kannapolis, NC 28083
Revella Nesbitt
( 704) 939- 1151
Fax: ( 704) 939- 1120
Cabarrus
Piedmont Behavioral Health Care
1807 East Innes St.
Salisbury, NC 28146
Robert Werstlien
( 704) 630- 4673
Fax: ( 704) 633- 5902
Rowan
Sandhills Center for MH/ DD/ SAS
PO Box 631
Rockingham, NC 28379
Jeannie King
( 910) 895- 2476
Fax: ( 910) 895- 9896
Richmond
Smoky Mountain Counseling Center
154 Medical Park Loop
Sylvia, NC 28779
Marsha Reynolds
( 828) 586- 8958
Fax: ( 828) 586- 0649
Haywood, Jackson, Swain, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 56
Private Agencies
Appalachian Family Innovations ( AFI)
204 Avery Ave.
Morganton, NC 28655
Brenda Caldwell
( 828) 433- 7187
Fax: ( 828) 437- 8329
Contract # 1 – Burke, Caldwell
Contract # 2 - Rutherford
Caring for Children
PO Box 19113
Asheville, NC 28815
* Subcontract of Buncombe Co. DSS
Lara Turner
( 828) 250- 5520
Fax ( 828) 255- 5260
Buncombe
Choanoke Area Development Assoc. ( CADA)
PO Box 530
Rich Square, NC 27869- 0530
Joyce Scott
( 252) 537- 9304
Fax: ( 252) 539- 2048
Halifax, Northampton
Exchange Club/ SCAN
500 West Northwest Blvd.
Winston- Salem, NC 27105
George Bryan, Jr.
( 336) 748- 9028
Fax: ( 828) 748- 9030
Davie, Forsyth, Stokes
Person County Family Connections
304 South Morgan St. Room 111
Roxboro, NC 27573
April Duckworth
( 336) 597- 1746
Fax; ( 336) 598- 0272
Person
Family Services of the Piedmont
315 East Washington St.
Greensboro, NC 27401
Sue Spidell
( 336) 387- 6161
Fax: ( 336) 387- 9167
Guilford
Martin County Community Action, Inc.
PO Box 806
311 East Ray St.
Williamston, NC 27895- 0806
Tina Garrett
( 252) 792- 7111
Fax: ( 252) 792- 1248
Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Curritcuk, Gates, Hertford, Martin, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt
Methodist Home for Children
PO Box 10917
Raleigh, NC 28605
Tom Fleetwood
( 919) 833- 2834
Fax ( 919) 755- 1833
Contract # 1 - Brunswick, Chatham, New Hanover, Pender, Pitt, Scotland, Wake, Wayne
Contract # 2 – Johnston
Contract # 3 – Robeson
Contract # 4 – Beaufort, Cartaret, Craven, Dare, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Onslow, Pamlico, Tyrrell, Washington
Mountain Youth Resources ( MYR)
20 Colonial Square
Sylvia, NC 28779
Marsha Reynolds
( 828) 586- 8958
Fax: ( 828) 586- 0649
Cherokee, Clay, Macon, Graham
Rainbow Center, Inc.
PO Box 1194
North Wilksboro, NC 28659
Glenda Andrews
( 336) 667- 3333
Fax: ( 336) 667- 0212
Wilkes
Youth Focus, Inc.
301 East Washington St.
Greensboro, NC 27401
Betsy Winston
( 336) 333- 6853
Fax: ( 336) 333- 6815
Guilford
Youth Homes
500 East Morehead St. Suite 120
Charlotte, NC 28202
Valerie Iseah
( 704) 334- 9955
Fax: ( 704) 375- 7497
Mecklenburg
* Due to the ongoing reorganization of North Carolina’s Mental Health providers, these agencies
may no longer exist under the name listed in this Appendix.
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 57
Note: Some agencies have multiple contracts as the result of the expansion of services through a competitive bidding process that took place in 2000.
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 58
APPENDIX B
Program Allocations and Expenditures for SYF 2003- 2004
Intensive Family Preservation Programs
Provider
Allocation
Actual Expenditure
Departments of Social Services
Cabarrus Co. DSS
$ 62,193
$ 62,193
Catawba Co. DSS
$ 75,000
$ 75,000
Cleveland Co. DSS - Managed by AFI
*
*
Gaston Co. DSS
$ 156,220
$ 156, 220
Iredell Co. DSS - Managed by AFI
$ 100,838
$ 128,792
Area Mental Health Programs
Centerpointe Area MH/ DD/ SAS
$ 42,773
$ 35,915
Cumberland Area MH/ DD/ SAS
$ 219,217
$ 199,163
Cumberland Area MH/ DD/ SAS
$ 32,582
$ 32.582
Foothills Area MH/ DD/ SAS
$ 39,822
$ 39,822
Piedmont Behavioral Health Care
None
Not Provided
Piedmont Behavioral Health Care
$ 67,541
$ 64,681
Sandhills Center for MH/ DD/ SAS
$ 75,000
$ 75,000
Smoky Mountain Counseling Center
$ 90,506
$ 89,100
Private Agencies
Appalachian Family Innovations ( AFI)
$ 664,490*
$ 598,090*
Caring for Children -
Subcontract of Buncombe Co. DSS
$ 106,785
$ 81,898
Choanoke Area Development Assoc. ( CADA)
$ 125,000
$ 125,000
Exchange Club/ SCAN
$ 95,000
$ 95,000
Person County Family Connections
$ 75,000
$ 75,000
Family Services of the Piedmont
$ 240,000
$ 225,958
Martin County Community Action, Inc.
$ 150,000
$ 138,298
Methodist Home for Children
$ 799,034
$ 694,909
Methodist Home for Children – Johnston
$ 74,949
$ 64,899
Methodist Home for Children – Robeson
$ 119,111
$ 89,846
Methodist Home for Children – Region 10
$ 237,554
$ 237,553
Mountain Youth Resources ( MYR)
$ 150,000
$ 150,000
Rainbow Center, Inc.
$ 55,000
$ 55,000
Youth Focus, Inc.
a
a
Youth Homes
$ 279,645
$ 224,352
* AFI had one contract that included IFPS services for Burke, Caldwell, and Rutherford counties, as well as Cleveland County ( with money formerly allocated to the DSS), and also Reunification services for Burke, Caldwell and Cleveland counties ( again through money formerly allocated to the DSS). Due to the way the contract for 2003- 2004 was processed the specific amounts for each type of service and service area could not be broken down separately. $ 598,090 of the $ 664,490 contracted amount was spent on the provision of IFPS and Reunification services by AFI.
a – Youth Focus is a subcontract of Family Services of the Piedmont and their allocation/ actual expenditure is included under Family Services of the Piedmont.
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 59

Annual Report
on the
Intensive Family Preservation Services Program
for the 2003- 2004 State Fiscal Year
December 2004
Prepared by
Jordan Institute for Families
School of Social Work
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
for
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Social Services Table of Contents
Executive Summary........................................................................................................................ 1
Introduction................................................................................................................... .................. 4
Review of Program Goals.................................................................................................... 4
Placement Prevention as an Outcome Measure................................................................... 5
Review of Policies and Procedures on Eligibility and Imminent Risk................................ 6
Program Summary for SFY 2004.................................................................................................... 8
Number of Families, Caretakers and Children Served........................................................ 8
Referral Information.......................................................................................................... 10
Family Information............................................................................................................ 11
Caretaker Demographics.................................................................................................... 13
Imminent Risk Child Demographics................................................................................. 14
Service Delivery Information............................................................................................ 16
Closure Information........................................................................................................... 17
Families Not Accepted/ Appropriate for IFPS................................................................... 18
Five Year Trend Analysis.............................................................................................................. 20
Number of Families, Caretakers and Children Served...................................................... 20
Referral Source.................................................................................................................. 21
Age and Gender of Imminent Risk Children..................................................................... 22
Primary Issues Affecting Families at Referral................................................................... 22
Monetary Assistance.......................................................................................................... 24
Race of Imminent Risk Children....................................................................................... 26
Placement of Imminent Risk Children............................................................................... 27
Family Functioning: North Carolina Family Assessment Scale.................................................... 29
Retrospective Study of the Effectiveness of IFPS......................................................................... 40
Cost- Effectiveness, Cost/ Benefit Analysis.................................................................................... 50
Summary of Major Findings from the Outcome- Focused Evaluation
of North Carolina’s Intensive Family Preservation Services Program.............................. 55
Appendices
Appendix A. Intensive Family Preservation Services Contact List for SFY 2003- 2004.............. 56
Appendix B. Program Allocations and Expenditures for SFY 2003- 2004.................................... 58
North Carolina Division of Social Serrvices-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 i
List of Tables
Table 1. Number of Families, Caretakers and Children Served by IFPS Programs
During SFY 2004, Listed by Program and County........................................................ 8
Table 2. Referral Information for Families Served by IFPS Programs..................................... 11
Table 3. Family Information at Referral and Intake.................................................................. 12
Table 4. Demographics of Caretakers Living in the Home....................................................... 13
Table 5. Demographics of Imminent Risk Children.................................................................. 14
Table 6. Imminent Risk Criteria for Imminent Risk Children by Referral Source.................... 15
Table 7. Service Delivery Information...................................................................................... 17
Table 8. Case Closure Information............................................................................................ 18
Table 9. Families Not Accepted/ Appropriate for IFPS............................................................. 19
Table 10. Risk of System Placement of Imminent Risk Children at Referral Compared
to Living Arrangement After IFPS, for Children Who Were Placed in
Out- of- Home Care, SFY 2000 through SFY 2004...................................................... 28
Table 11. Level of Change Experienced by Families on Each Domain of the
North Carolina Family Assessment Scale During IFPS.............................................. 35
Table 12. Children at Risk of Out- of- Home Placement at Intake................................................ 51
Table 13. Estimated Potential and Estimated Actual Costs of Placements for SFY 2004.......... 52
Table 14. Determining the Fiscal Break- Even Point of the IFPS Program: Cost and
Cost- Savings Resulting from Different Levels of Child Placement Prevention......... 53
North Carolina Division of Social Serrvices-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 ii
List of Figures
Figure 1. Number of Families, Imminent Risk Children, and Total Children Served
by IFPS Programs........................................................................................................ 21
Figure 2. Percent of Families Served by IFPS Referral Source.................................................. 22
Figure 3. Primary Issues Affecting Families at Referral: Percent of Families
Experiencing Issue....................................................................................................... 23
Figure 4. Percent of Families Needing and Receiving Monetary Assistance from IFPS........... 24
Figure 5. Total Dollars Provided as Monetary Assistance to Needy IFPS Families.................. 25
Figure 6. Race of Imminent Risk Children in Families Receiving IFPS.................................... 26
Figure 7. Environment Ratings at Intake and Closure................................................................ 31
Figure 8. Parental Capabilities Ratings at Intake and Closure.................................................... 32
Figure 9. Family Interactions Ratings at Intake and Closure...................................................... 32
Figure 10. Family Safety Ratings at Intake and Closure............................................................... 33
Figure 11. Child Well- Being Ratings at Intake and Closure......................................................... 34
Figure 12. Level of Change Experienced by Families on NCFAS Domain Scores...................... 36
Figure 13. Overall Change on the NCFAS.................................................................................... 37
Figure 14. Risk of Placement After CPS Report/ Referral to IFPS............................................... 44
Figure 15. Risk of Placement After CPS Report/ Referral to IFPS for
Children with 1+ Prior PA Spells................................................................................ 45
Figure 16. Risk of Placement After CPS Report/ Referral to IFPS for
Children with 1+ Prior Substantiations........................................................................ 46
Figure 17. Risk of Placement After CPS Report/ Referral to IFPS for
Children with 1+ Prior Hi Risk Substantiations.......................................................... 47
Figure 18. Risk of Placement After CPS Report/ Referral to IFPS for
Children Receiving Traditional CW Services by Race............................................... 48
Figure 19. Risk of Placement After CPS Report/ Referral to IFPS for
Children Receiving IFPS Services by Race................................................................. 49
Figure 20. Risk of Placement After CPS Report/ Referral to IFPS for
non- White Children..................................................................................................... 50
North Carolina Division of Social Serrvices-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 iii
Executive Summary
This report presents data and findings on North Carolina’s Intensive Family Preservation ( IFPS) Program from State Fiscal Year 2003 – 2004 ( SFY 2004), and on a five- year history of families served SFY 2000 through SFY 2004. The findings from the analyses of five- year trend data remain very positive, both in terms of achieving legislative intent, and in terms of achieving a variety of positive outcomes for families and children- at- risk of abuse or neglect in North Carolina.
During SFY 2004, 32 IFPS programs provided services in 50 counties, serving 618 families in which 1,210 children were at imminent risk of being removed from the home. After IFPS services, 54 of those children ( 5%) were not living at home. This represents a placement prevention rate of 94% with respect to families, and 95% with respect to individual children. Changes in family functioning that enabled children and families to remain together safely included improvements in environmental factors, parental capabilities, family interactions, family safety and child well- being. SFY 2004 was the fifth year that the North Carolina Family Assessment Scale ( NCFAS), Version 2.0, was used by IFPS programs. The NCFAS V2.0 data are discussed in detail elsewhere in this report.
During the past year, the number of minority children served by IFPS programs remained at 49% of all imminent risk children served ( 35% African American and 14% other minority populations). The proportion of white children in the service population remains at an all time low of 51%. The increase in service to minority children over the last four years is attributable to the expansion of IFPS programs in counties with a high percentage of minority children in the child welfare population.
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 1
Significant shifts have also occurred over the past five years with respect to referral source and primary issues affecting families. DSS referred families increased from 54% to 70% in SFY 2001 and have remained fairly constant ( ranging from 70% to 80%) over the last four years. There has been an increase in the number of families presenting with the problem of neglect ( ranging from 56% to 61% since SFY 2001) and a decline in the number of families presenting with problems with school, delinquency or sexual abuse. The increase in DSS referred families and shift in primary issues affecting families appears to be due to the change in eligibility criteria in SFY 2001.
IFPS programs continue to show stability with regard to the age and sex distribution of imminent risk children over the past 5 years. Further, IFPS programs continue to demonstrate a very high degree of success in preventing placements, averaging about 93% per year with respect to families, and 94% with respect to individual children. Other important 5- year findings are that the IFPS program appears to have a significant effect on determining the level of service need for children who are ultimately placed in out- of- home care. Data indicate that children at risk of placement in correctional or psychiatric care at the time of intake often can be served in less costly, less restrictive alternative placements. Further, a small number of children at risk of placement into foster care have service needs identified that result in their receiving mental health services or more restrictive care.
Analyses of data from the North Carolina Family Assessment Scale reveal statistically significant relationships between “ strengths” on several domains and placement prevention, and between “ problems” on several domains and out- of- home placement. Further, the data indicate convincingly that IFPS interventions are capable of improving family functioning across all the
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 2
measured domains, and that these improvements in family functioning are statistically significantly associated with placement prevention.
Results of the on- going retrospective study of the effectiveness of IFPS indicate that IFPS is effective, and becoming more effective as compared to prior years, in preventing or delaying out- of- home placement among the target population of high- risk families when compared to the same types of families receiving traditional child welfare services. Results also indicate that the higher the risk evident in families, the larger the difference is between IFPS and traditional services. Further, IFPS appears to be effective at mitigating placement differences between white and non- white populations.
Taken as a whole, the evaluation results for the Intensive Family Preservation Services program in North Carolina reveal that:
♦ there are significant shifts in family functioning that occur during IFPS that are associated with positive treatment outcomes;
♦ placement prevention rates have been very steady, ranging between 88- 94% of families, and 89- 95% of children each year since the program began, with the SFY 2004 programs providing the best placement prevention rates to date;
♦ IFPS continues to be a very cost effective program, and yields a very favorable cost/ benefit ratio;
♦ benefits appear to accrue for families that have received the service ( as measured by living arrangements of families, service utilization by families, and their apparent abilities to handle family stress).
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 3
Introduction
This is the eleventh Annual Report on North Carolina’s Intensive Family Preservation Services ( IFPS) program that presents data and information about families and children that have participated in the program. It is the eighth annual report in which data from more than one year are presented, including five- year trend data on the service population and a retrospective study examining the effectiveness of IFPS. Information about the IFPS program’s activities and performance relating specifically to SFY 2004 are also presented.
Data that are presented graphically or in tables represent the most interesting findings from the current year, or from past years. There is also a section on Family Functioning, based upon the use of the North Carolina Family Assessment Scale. Further, the retrospective study to examine the treatment effects of IFPS has been expanded this year to include data on placement outcomes for DSS referred children served through December 2002.
Data from the IFPS statewide information system are presented that:
♦ examine this year’s performance of the program,
♦ describe the historical trends of the program since its beginning,
♦ describe research and evaluation findings that help explain the program’s data,
♦ examine the long term outcomes of families that have received the services, and
♦ discuss the cost effectiveness and cost/ benefit of the program.
Review of Program Goals
The goal of North Carolina’s Intensive Family Preservation Services Program is to prevent the unnecessary placement of children away from their families by providing intensive, in- home services that result in long term improvements in parents’ abilities to care for and protect their children.
The services provided by IFPS programs are intended to meet the following objectives:
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 4
♦ to stabilize the crisis that places the child at imminent risk of placement;
♦ to keep the child, family and community safe by reducing the potential for violence ( physical, sexual, emotional/ verbal);
♦ to keep the child safe from the consequences of neglect;
♦ to help families develop skills and resources needed to face and resolve future crises; and,
♦ to improve family functioning so that the family’s quality of life is improved.
Program Design Includes:
♦ Targeting families with children at imminent risk of out of home placement;
♦ Time- limited services lasting not more than six weeks;
♦ Home- based services where at least half of the face- to- face contact occurs in the family’s home or community;
♦ Focus on promoting family competence, building on the family’s strengths;
♦ Culturally competent services demonstrating understanding and respect for cultural and ethnic diversity;
♦ Therapeutic and concrete services;
♦ Round the clock access to family preservation caseworkers;
♦ Caseloads no greater than four families at any given time, and
♦ Specially trained and supported family preservation caseworkers.
Placement Prevention as an Outcome Measure
Throughout the report, “ placement prevention,” or variations of the term, is one of several outcome measures used to discuss IFPS program success. Indeed, the definition of those eligible for IFPS ( as expressed in the Division of Social Services’ Policies and Procedures for the IFPS program) is: “... child( ren) at imminent risk of out- of- home placement into the social services, mental health/ developmental disabilities/ substance abuse services, or juvenile justice system.” The prevention of “ unnecessary” placements into these systems is a central philosophical underpinning of IFPS. However, many of these placements have become North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 5
“ unnecessary” only because there are now services ( IFPS) that provide an alternative to placement in foster care or institutional care.
Having established the desirability of preventing unnecessary placements, it must be recognized that not all placements are preventable, and sometimes placement is in the best interest of the child. Therefore, “ placement prevention” is not an entirely satisfactory success statistic, and it must be viewed within the context of child safety and family functioning. Child safety is the primary concern of all IFPS programs, and family functioning comprises a variety of things ( resources, supports, skills, etc.) that enable families to resolve crises and remain together, safely.
Review of Policies and Procedures on Eligibility and Imminent Risk
The policies and procedures for IFPS programs were revised during fiscal year 2001 and effective April 1, 2001. Eligibility guidelines for receipt of IFPS services were standardized. All IFPS programs funded through the appropriation in SL 1999- 237 may only serve clients who have an open Child Protective Services case with the local Department of Social Services. Previously existing programs that receive funding from sources other than SL 1999- 237 may continue to accept referrals from agencies other than DSS. The SL 1999- 237 funded programs must also ensure that client families have an annual income that is no greater than 200% of the federal poverty level.
Policy revisions during fiscal year 2001 also standardized assessment criteria for determining imminent risk. Objective criteria have been established to standardize the definition of imminent risk for each referral source. These criteria include:
DSS Referred Cases
♦ There has been a substantiation of abuse or neglect; and
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 6
♦ There is a rating of “ High Risk” on the standardized risk assessment worksheet for at least one child who has been substantiated in the family.
Juvenile Justice Referred Cases
♦ There has been adjudication that the juvenile is delinquent or undisciplined, and the juvenile violates protective supervision or probation, or there are new charges; or
♦ The juvenile has been placed on Level 2 disposition by the court.
Mental Health Referred Cases
♦ A child may be considered “ at imminent risk of out of home placement” when the child’s treatment team determines that if IFPS were not offered, the child would be referred to a residential or inpatient setting; and
♦ A child receives a total CAFAS score of 60 or above, or a subscore of 30 on either the parent/ caregiver or the moods/ self- harm domain.
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 7
Program Summary for SFY 2004
Number of Families, Caretakers and Children Served
During SFY 2004, 32 IFPS programs provided services to families in 50 counties throughout North Carolina. Table 1, below, presents a detailed table of the programs and counties served, as well as the number of families, imminent risk children, total children and caretakers served.
Table 1: Number of Families, Caretakers and Children Served by IFPS Programs
During SFY 2004, Listed by Program and County
INTENSIVE FAMILY PRESERVATION PROGRAM
COUNTY SERVED
FAMILIES SERVED
CARE- TAKERS SERVED
IMMINENT RISK CHILDREN SERVED
ALL CHILDREN SERVED
Mountain Youth Resources
Cherokee
8
11
6
18
Graham
8
15
13
15
Macon
8
10
8
17
Blue Ridge Mental Health
Buncombe
1
2
1
2
Buncombe County DSS
Buncombe
38
64
70
80
Home Remedies- Bringing It
Burke
12
20
32
35
All Back Home
Caldwell
7
11
14
15
Lenoir
1
1
2
2
Foothills Mental Health
Alexander
3
5
3
3
Burke
1
1
1
1
Caldwell
7
11
7
18
Cleveland County DSS
Cleveland
21
35
44
60
Gaston County DSS
Gaston
30
49
69
70
Cabarrus County DSS
Cabarrus
20
31
58
59
Piedmont Behavioral Healthcare
Cabarrus
6
8
12
17
Rowan
1
1
1
1
Centerpointe Mental Health
Davie
1
2
0
2
Forsyth
13
21
12
34
Stokes
3
6
2
6 North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 8
INTENSIVE FAMILY PRESERVATION PROGRAM
COUNTY SERVED
FAMILIES SERVED
CARE- TAKERS SERVED
IMMINENT RISK CHILDREN SERVED
ALL CHILDREN SERVED
Cumberland Mental Health
Cumberland
9
13
10
27
Methodist Home for Children
Chatham
13
22
18
28
Pitt
10
17
11
11
Scotland
14
21
19
40
Wake
10
16
10
32
Wayne
14
23
26
36
Smoky Mountain Mental Health
Haywood
8
12
10
12
Jackson
4
5
10
11
Swain
1
1
1
1
Choanoke Area Development
Halifax
23
32
33
37
Association
Northampton
5
8
7
9
Family Connections
Person
12
17
22
25
Catawba County DSS
Catawba
23
36
55
55
Iredell County DSS
Iredell
20
34
41
41
Sandhills Mental Health
Richmond
12
18
21
28
Clay County DSS
Clay
3
3
7
10
EXPANSION PROGRAMS
S. Region 2: BIABH
Rutherford
8
12
14
19
N. Region 3: Rainbow Center
Wilkes
12
15
29
29
S. Region 3: Youth Homes
Mecklenburg
27
39
77
85
N. Region 4: Exchange Club/ SCAN
Forsyth
22
29
49
55
N. Region 4: Centerpointe MH
Forsyth
2
2
4
4
S. Region 4: Piedmont Beh. Healthcare
Rowan
10
15
14
22
S. Region 5: Fam. Serv. of Piedmont
Guilford
26
40
52
57
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 9
INTENSIVE FAMILY PRESERVATION PROGRAM
COUNTY SERVED
FAMILIES SERVED
CARE- TAKERS SERVED
IMMINENT RISK CHILDREN SERVED
ALL CHILDREN SERVED
S. Region 5: Youth Focus
Guilford
27
42
68
72
N. Region 7: Cumberland Co. MH
Cumberland
23
34
62
68
S. Region 7: Methodist Home
Robeson
18
31
29
43
S. Region 8: Methodist Home
Johnston
12
19
26
27
Region 9: Martin County Community
Bertie
5
5
13
13
Action
Gates
2
2
4
4
Hertford
3
5
6
9
Martin
4
6
13
13
Pasquotank
1
1
1
1
Perquimans
1
2
2
2
Region 10: Methodist Home
Beaufort
10
15
23
23
Brunswick
8
13
15
18
Craven
1
2
2
4
Dare
3
5
8
8
New Hanover
11
16
15
25
Onslow
6
10
14
14
Pamlico
4
6
8
9
Wayne
2
2
6
6
Totals
618
950
1210
1488
During SFY 2004, a total of 618 families received services that ended before July 1, 2004. There were 1,210 imminent risk children identified in these families, among a total of 1,488 children in the families; 950 caretakers were served directly by the programs.
Referral Information
Table 2 presents information collected at the time the case is referred to IFPS for service. The majority of referrals came from DSS ( 76%), followed by Mental Health ( 13%) and Juvenile
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 10
Justice ( 9%); all other sources, combined, accounted for about 1%. The average response time from referral to the first visit to the family by an IFPS worker was 1.56 days.
Table 2: Referral Information for Families Served by IFPS Programs
Referral Information
Number
Percent
Referral Source
DSS
472
76.4%
MH/ DD/ SAS
82
13.3%
Juvenile Justice
58
9.4%
Other
6
1.0%
Average Number of Days from Referral to First Home Visit
1.56
DSS Referred Families with Substantiation of Abuse and/ or Neglect
437
92.6%
Risk Assessment Rating for those with Substantiation
Low
1
0.2%
Medium
25
5.7%
High
411
94.1%
Average Number of Days from Substantiation to IFPS Referral
74
Eligibility criteria require that DSS referred cases have a substantiation of abuse and/ or neglect, and that the family, or at least one imminent risk child in the family, have a “ high” rating on the Family Risk Assessment Factor Worksheet completed by the DSS investigator. In SFY 2004, 93% of DSS referred cases were reported to have had a substantiation of abuse and/ or neglect. The majority ( 94%) of these families had a “ high” or “ intensive” rating on the family risk assessment. The average length of time from the DSS substantiation of abuse and/ or neglect to the referral for IFPS services was 74 days.
Family Information
Table 3 presents information collected about families at referral and intake. About 7% of families served in SFY 2004 had received IFPS previously. Lack of financial resources was indicated as causing significant family stress in 40% of families; these families did not have incomes sufficient to meet their basic needs.
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 11
Table 3: Family Information at Referral and Intake
Family Information
Number
Percent
Families that Previously Received IFPS
44
7.2%
Families Without Sufficient Income to Cover Basic Needs
201
40.1%
Top 10 Issues Presenting the Family at Referral
Family Conflict/ Violence
413
66.8%
Neglect
347
56.1%
School Difficulty
276
44.7%
Other Drug Abuse
163
26.4%
Mental Illness
127
20.6%
Alcohol Abuse
126
20.4%
Delinquency
109
17.6%
Learning Disability
98
15.9%
Truancy
97
15.7%
Physical Abuse
86
13.9%
Average Number of Issues Indicated per Family
4.25
Strengths Identified in 50% or More of Families at Intake
Eager to keep family together
487
78.8%
Verbal
443
71.7%
Pleasant
362
58.6%
Responsive
333
53.9%
Orderly/ neat in home and person
328
53.1%
Caring
319
51.6%
Receptive
317
51.3%
Average Number of Strengths Identified per Family
9.85
The major issues placing children at risk at the time of referral were: family conflict and violence; neglect; school difficulty; alcohol or other drug abuse by one or more family members; mental illness; delinquency; learning disability; truancy; and physical abuse. On average, 4 major issues were identified per family that placed children at imminent risk of placement. In spite of these issues, in the majority ( 79%) of families IFPS workers were able to identify at least one caretaker who was eager to keep the family together, and who displayed various strengths that were used as the foundation of the IFPS worker’s intervention plan. Caseworkers were able to identify an average of 10 family strengths per family that would aid in the intervention plan.
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 12
Caretaker Demographics
In SFY 2004, 950 caretakers were living in the homes of the 618 families served by the IFPS programs. Table 4 presents demographic information for these caretakers.
Table 4: Demographics of Caretakers Living in the Home
Demographics of Caretakers Living in the Home
Number
Percent
Age
Average Age
35
Under 18
12
1.3%
18 – 24
110
11.8%
25 – 30
188
20.1%
31 – 40
381
40.8%
41 – 50
174
18.6%
51 – 60
40
4.3%
Over 60
29
3.1%
Gender
Female
624
65.7%
Male
326
34.3%
Race
White
599
63.1%
African American
283
29.8%
Other
67
7.1%
Working Full- Time
379
39.9%
Working Part- Time
73
7.7%
Unemployed
316
33.3%
Unemployed— Homemaker
80
8.4%
Unemployed— Disabled
81
8.5%
Educational Status
Less than 10th grade
98
12.4%
10th – 12th grade
244
30.9%
High school/ GED
301
38.1%
Post college/ college graduate
146
18.5%
The average age of the caretakers served by the program was 35 years old. One- third ( 33%) of the caretakers were 30 years old or less, one- quarter ( 26%) were over the age of 40, and the remaining 41% were between 31 and 40 years old. Two- thirds ( 66%) of caretakers living in the home were female. The majority of caretakers were White ( 63%), 30% were African American, and 7% were of other minority races. Only 40% of caretakers were employed
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 13
in full- time work and an almost equal percentage ( 33%) of caretakers were unemployed and in need of work. Nearly half ( 43%) of all caretakers had less than a high school diploma.
Imminent Risk Child Demographics
In SFY 2004, 1,210 children were identified as being at imminent risk of out- of- home placement from among the 618 families served by the IFPS programs. Table 5 presents demographic information on the children at imminent risk of out- of- home placement.
Table 5: Demographics of Imminent Risk Children
Demographics of Imminent Risk Children
Number
Percent
Age
Average Age
8.07
0 – 5
440
36.7%
6 – 12
445
37.1%
13 – 15
232
19.3%
16 – 17
83
6.9%
Gender
Female
592
48.9%
Male
618
51.1%
Race
White
611
50.5%
African American
427
35.3%
Other
172
14.2%
Risk of System Placement
Social Services
1063
87.9%
Mental Health
73
6.0%
Substance Abuse Services
0
0.0%
Juvenile Justice
63
5.2%
Developmental Disability
2
0.2%
Private Placement
8
0.7%
The average age of the imminent risk child was about 8 years old. Forty- nine percent of the imminent risk children were female and 51% were male. Half ( 51%) of the children were White and 35% were African American. Other minority children represented 14% of the imminent risk children served. ( Refer to the “ Five Year Trend Analysis” section for more information about the racial distribution of the IFPS population.) The large majority of children
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 14
( 88%) were at risk of a Social Services placement. Another 6% were at- risk of a Mental Health placement, and 5% were at- risk of a Juvenile Justice placement.
The revised IFPS Policies and Procedures detail specific imminent risk criteria for each type of referral source. Table 6 presents summary information on the imminent risk criteria for children at imminent risk of out- of- home placement.
Table 6: Imminent Risk Criteria for Imminent Risk Children by Referral Source
Imminent Risk Criteria
Number
Percent
DSS Referred IR Children
1060
87.6%
Maltreatment Type
Physical/ Emotional/ Sexual Abuse
98
9.7%
Neglect
906
89.9%
Delinquent
4
0.4%
Risk Assessment Rating
Low
2
0.2%
Medium
31
2.9%
High
1021
96.9%
Mental Health Referred IR Children
87
7.2%
Average CAFAS Score
74.07
When CAFAS < 60, which domain had sub- score of 30
Parent/ Caregiver
2
100.0%
Moods/ Self- Harm
0
0.0%
Juvenile Justice Referred IR Children
58
4.8%
Type of Adjudication
Undisciplined
25
43.1%
Delinquent
33
56.9%
If Delinquent, Most Serious Offense
Violent
1
3.0%
Serious
18
54.5%
Minor
14
42.4%
Other Criteria ( could mark more than 1)
Violated Supervision/ Probation
23
39.7%
New Charges Filed
14
24.1%
Placed on Level 2 Disposition
28
48.3%
From the data available in SFY 2004, the majority of imminent risk children ( 88%) were referred from a DSS referral source. Most ( 90%) DSS referred imminent risk children had neglect as the primary type of maltreatment substantiated. The majority ( 97%) of these children had a risk rating of “ high.” Recall that the new Policies and Procedures requires that only 1
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 15
child in a family be rated at “ high” risk; other imminent risk children in the family could receive lower risk ratings, but the family would still be eligible for IFPS services. Mental health referred 7% of imminent risk children served. The average CAFAS score for these children was 74. All but two children had a CAFAS score over the required minimum total score of 60, but they all had a parent/ caregiver domain score over 30. The remaining 5% of imminent risk children were referred for services from juvenile justice agencies. The majority ( 57%) of these children were adjudicated delinquent and the remaining 43% were adjudicated undisciplined. For those imminent risk children adjudicated delinquents, 3% committed a violent offense, 55% committed a serious offense, and 42% committed a minor offense. Two- fifths ( 40%) of juvenile justice referred imminent risk children had violated supervision or probation, one- quarter ( 24%) had new charges filed against them and almost half ( 48%) had been placed on level 2 disposition. These data indicate a high degree of compliance with the new IFPS eligibility criteria implemented in SFY 2001.
Service Delivery Information
Table 7 presents regularly collected service delivery information from the 618 families served in SFY 2004. Workers averaged 70 hours of service to each of the families during the typical 6- week service period. About 32 hours, on average, were spent in face- to- face contact with the family. About 12 hours were devoted to client- related travel, 11 hours to administrative tasks and record keeping, and about 16 hours to a combination of case management activities ( including telephone contact, conversations with “ collaterals,” supervision, court time, etc.).
Table 3 reported that 40% of families were experiencing financial hardship and did not have enough money to cover the basic needs of the family. In SFY 2004, IFPS programs provided monetary assistance totaling $ 21,233 to 22% of all families served to alleviate
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 16
emergency crises and stabilize the living situation. This amount averaged $ 158 per family receiving monetary assistance.
Table 7: Service Delivery Information
Service Delivery Information
Number
Percent
Average Number of Hours of:
Face to Face Contact
31.95
Telephone Contact
4.38
Collateral Contact
5.09
Client Related Travel
11.97
Supervision
5.32
Administrative/ Record Keeping
10.89
Miscellaneous Contact
.81
Average Number of Hours of All Case Related Activities
70.40
Families in Need of Monetary Assistance
134
21.7%
Families Provided Monetary Assistance ( of those who needed)
134
100.0%
Total Dollars Families Needed
$ 20,589
Total Dollars Families Provided
$ 21,233
Average Dollars Provided per Family in Need
$ 158
Closure Information
Table 8 presents information collected about families served at the time of case closure. The average IFPS case lasted an average of 39.30 days ( 5.6 weeks). The majority of cases ( 82%) were closed successfully when services were completed. Another 11% of cases were closed after the family moved, the child moved to live with a relative or family friend ( still considered a “ home” placement), the family withdrew, or the family was consistently uncooperative. Only a small percentage of cases ( 6%) were closed due to child placement or the risk to the child was too high and placement was imminent. A total of 38 families ( 6%) experienced the placement of an imminent risk child or children. In the judgement of IFPS workers, sufficient progress was made during the IFPS intervention to permit the children to remain at home in 94% of the families. However, 83% of families were referred to other
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 17
services at the time IFPS services ended to continue to work on issues after the precipitating crisis was stabilized and risks to the child( ren) sufficiently reduced.
Table 8: Case Closure Information
Case Closure Information
Number
Percent
Average Number of Days from Referral to Closure
39.30
Reason Case was Closed
Child Placed
29
4.7%
Risk to Children Too High
5
0.8%
Child Moved ( to live with relative/ family friend)
10
1.6%
Family Moved/ Left Jurisdiction
15
2.4%
Family Withdrew/ Consistently Uncooperative
41
6.6%
Services Completed/ Service Period Ended
507
82.0%
Other Reason
11
1.8%
Imminent Risk Child Living Situation at Closure
Home
1070
88.4%
Relative
76
6.3%
Family Friend
10
0.8%
Social Services
36
3.0%
Mental Health
11
0.9%
Juvenile Justice
4
0.3%
Private Placement
3
0.2%
Other Placement
0
0.0%
Imminent Risk Children Experiencing an Out- of- Home Placement at Closure
54
4.5%
Families Experiencing an Out- of- Home Placement of 1+ Imminent Risk Child( ren)
38
6.1%
Families Referred for Other Services at Closure
509
82.5%
Families Not Accepted/ Appropriate for IFPS
Each year many families are referred for IFPS but not served. Reporting those data to the state is optional; therefore, this information is likely an underestimate of the total number of families that were referred for IFPS. Table 9 presents summary information about these families. In SFY 2004, at least 209 families and 422 imminent risk children were referred for IFPS and not served. The majority of referrals ( 72%) came from county Department of Social Services. Nineteen percent of families were denied services because caseloads were full, and 16% were not served because the family did not meet the referral system eligibility criteria. Thirty- four percent of families were not willing to participate in services. Just over half ( 52%)
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 18
of families that did not receive services were White, 31% were African American, and 7% were other minorities.
Table 9: Families Not Accepted/ Appropriate for IFPS
Families Not Accepted/ Appropriate for IFPS
Number
Percent
Number of Families Referred, but Not Served
209
Reason Families Not Accepted/ Appropriate for IFPS
Caseloads Full
40
19.3%
Unable to Locate within 48 Hours
21
10.1%
Risk too High
2
1.0%
Did Not Meet Referral System Eligibility Criteria
34
16.4%
Family Not Willing to Participate
70
33.8%
Other Reason
40
19.3%
Agency from Which Family Was Referred
DSS
147
72.1%
Mental Health
31
15.2%
Juvenile Justice
19
9.3%
Other Source
7
3.4%
Total Number of Imminent Risk Children Referred and Not Served
422
Average Number of Imminent Risk Children per Family Referred and Not Served
2.05
Family Race
White
100
52.1%
African American
59
30.7%
Other
14
7.3%
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 19
Five Year Trend Analysis
Since the enactment of Senate Bill 141 of the Family Preservation Act of 1991, North Carolina’s IFPS providers have served more than 6500 families. The automated IFPS case record and management information system was implemented in January 1994, and contains detailed information on 6,348 families served. This large database provides highly reliable estimates of program trends since the system has been operating at “ full capacity” for 10.5 years. Findings in this section, unless specifically noted otherwise, relate to the total population of families served in the last five years, SFY 2000 through SFY 2004.
Five- year trend analyses of a number of variables indicate a high degree of stability, and therefore predictability, in a number of areas of interest to IFPS programs, policy executives and the legislature. These analyses also present positive changes to the program where administrative attention has focused on program development.
Number of Families, Caretakers and Children Served
The number of programs offering IFPS services increased significantly in SFY 2001 when IFPS programs were expanded to reach new areas of the state. In the 3 years prior to SFY 2001, the number of programs offering IFPS services varied only slightly ( 22 programs serving between 34 and 38 counties). Currently there are 32 IFPS programs operating and providing services to families in 50 counties throughout the state. Figure 1, next page, presents the number of families, imminent risk children, and total children served annually by IFPS programs. The program has served an average of 633 families per year ( from a low of 563 families in SFY 2000 to a high of 700 families in SFY 2001). The number of imminent risk children served in these families averages 1,175 per year among an average of 1,485 total children served annually.
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 20
Figure 1. Number of Families, Imminent Risk Children and Total Children Served by IFPS Programs563700666618618910133212401184121012371712154314441488020040060080010001200140016001800SFY ' 00SFY ' 01SFY ' 02SFY ' 03SFY ' 04Number of FamiliesNumber of Imminent Risk ChildrenTotal Number of Children
Referral Source
Prior to SFY 2001, the sources of referral remained quite constant: between 54% and 57% have come from DSS, 19% to 21% from MH/ DD/ SAS, 15% to 21% from Juvenile Justice, and only 7% to 8% from all other sources. In SFY 2001 DSS referrals increased to 70% as a result of most expansion programs serving families from DSS referral sources only. Since that time, referrals have again remained fairly constant: between 70% and 80% have come from DSS, 11% to 14% from MH/ DD/ SAS, 8% to 14% from Juvenile Justice, and only 1% to 5% from all other sources ( see Figure 2, next page). The decline in referrals from MH/ DD/ SAS and Juvenile Justice can be attributed to the majority of expansion programs being funded to serve children referred from DSS sources.
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 21
Figure 2. Percent of Families Served by IFPS Referral Source5470758076191114121321141089751110102030405060708090SFY ' 00SFY ' 01SFY ' 02SFY ' 03SFY ' 04Percent of FamiliesDSSMH/ DD/ SASJJOther
Age and Gender of Imminent Risk Children
The distribution of ages of imminent risk children has remained stable throughout the last five years: 28% to 37% have been 0- 5 years of age, 37% to 45% have been 6- 12 years of age, 19% to 23% have been 13- 15 years of age, and 4% to 7% have been 16+ years of age. The gender of imminent risk children has been 44% to 49% female, and 51% to 56% male.
Primary Issues Affecting Families at Referral
Figure 3 presents data on the types of problems affecting families. ( Note that each section of a bar represents the percent of families experiencing a particular problem, and that families may experience multiple problems. Therefore, the bars do not add to 100%, but
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 22
represent the cumulative percentages of families experiencing that problem in a given year). The types of problems affecting families remained quite consistent through SFY 2000. In SFY 2001 new eligibility criteria and imminent risk definitions were implemented, along with a significant expansion of IFPS programs serving DSS referred children, that have shifted the proportion of families experiencing issues in the major problem areas. The major problem areas remain school difficulty, delinquency, family violence, neglect, substance abuse and various types of abuse. Figure 3. Primary Issues Affecting Families at Referral: Percent of Families Experiencing Issue57514441452716171418141818171465636362674757616456191514131227232524202525272526SFY ' 00SFY ' 01SFY ' 02SFY ' 03SFY ' 04School DifficultyDelinquencyPhysical AbuseFam. Conflict/ ViolenceNeglectSexual AbuseAlcohol AbuseOther Drug Abuse
The proportion of families experiencing problems of physical abuse, family conflict or violence, and substance abuse have remained fairly constant. However, significant declines can be noted in the proportion of families presenting with problems with school, delinquency or sexual abuse. There has been a marked increase in the proportion of families presenting with the
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 23
problem of neglect. These shifts can be accounted for by the increase in families served from DSS referral sources as well as an increase in the number of families receiving “ high” ratings on the family risk assessment.
Monetary Assistance
Lack of financial resources is a major stressor for IFPS families. This variable is not rated on the area of the case record that contributes to the “ problem areas” presented in Figure 3, so these data are not part of that Figure. However, IFPS workers identify about 1/ 3 ( between 34% and 42%) of IFPS families annually as “ being without sufficient incomes to meet their basic needs.” Figure 4. Percent of Families Needing and Receiving Monetary Assistance from IFPS2019182322979599991000102030405060708090100SFY ' 00SFY ' 01SFY ' 02SFY ' 03SFY ' 04Percent of FamiliesNeeding Monetary AssistanceReceiving Monetary Assistance
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 24
Figure 4 illustrates that the number of families identified as needing monetary assistance has remained fairly constant over the last 5 years, ranging from 18% to 23% of families ( not all families with insufficient incomes are so identified). The percent of families receiving assistance ( of those who needed assistance) has also remained constant, at 95% to 100% per year.
The provision of monetary resources to these families is an area that has fluctuated greatly over the past five years. Figure 5 illustrates these changes. The amount of money devoted to providing monetary assistance to families in need by IFPS programs was at a high of $ 25,626 in SFY 2003 and at a low of $ 9,229 in SFY 2000. The reasons for these fluctuations from year to year are not known. The five- year average of total dollars provided to families in need is $ 16,902 per year. Figure 5. Total Dollars Provided as Monetary Assistance to Needy IFPS Families$ 9,229$ 16,936$ 11,484$ 25,626$ 21,233$- $ 5,000$ 10,000$ 15,000$ 20,000$ 25,000$ 30,000SFY ' 00SFY ' 01SFY ' 02SFY ' 03SFY ' 04
5 year average = $ 16,902/ year
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 25
The fact that monetary assistance is available to IFPS families does not imply that IFPS is an alternative “ welfare” type program. On the contrary, of the 626 families ( SFY 2000 through SFY 2004) that have received monetary assistance as part of their IFPS service plan received an average of $ 135. Rather than resembling a welfare payment, these small amounts of money are a deliberate and focused attempt to alleviate a particular family stressor ( e. g., repair of a car or needed appliance, restoration of electricity or telephone service to the home, provide a social or recreational activity intended to enhance family relations).
Race of Imminent Risk Children
The race of children served by IFPS providers is a variable where substantial changes have occurred since the automated IFPS case record and management information system was Figure 6. Race of Imminent Risk Children in Families Receiving IFPS615453515133343335714131614320102030405060708090100SFY ' 00SFY ' 01SFY ' 02SFY ' 03SFY ' 04Percent of Imminent Risk ChildrenWhiteAfrican AmericanOther North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 26
implemented in January 1994. Figure 6 illustrates an interesting pattern for African American and other minority children served by the IFPS program over the past five years.
Since SFY 1997 ( not shown), when the proportion of African American children served increased to 34% ( from 25% the previous year), variations in the racial distribution of African American children served have been small ( varying from 32% to 35% over the past five years). However, since SFY 2001 there has been a significant increase in the percentage of other minority children served by IFPS programs to an all time high of 16% in SFY 2003. This change is accounted for by a statistically significant decrease in the percent of white children served to an all time low of 51% in SFY 2003 and SFY 2004.
Expansion funds were given to DSS during SFY 2001 to expand IFPS throughout North Carolina. The Division focused on expanding IFPS in areas of the state with the highest placement rates. Historically, minority children have been over- represented in the child welfare population. Thus, if successful, the expansion strategy should have resulted in the delivery of IFPS services to larger segments of the minority populations. Data suggest that this strategy was successful. The large majority of children served through IFPS in expansion counties during SFY 2001, SFY 2002, SFY 2003 and SFY 2004 were minority, ranging from 45% to 50% African American and 15% to 20% other minority ( including American Indian, Hispanic, Asian and multi- racial) children.
Placement of Imminent Risk Children
Another important finding emerged in the trend analysis that relates broadly to the entire child welfare system: even if children are placed out of home at the end of IFPS services, the program data reveal a statistically significant shift in the level of care needed by those children. Presented in Table 10, these data show that three- quarters ( 75%) of the children at risk of
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 27
placement into Mental Health/ Developmental Disabilities/ Substance Abuse Services and half ( 50%) of the children at risk of placement into Juvenile Justice facilities at referral, and who are ultimately placed out of home, are placed in those types of facilities. Fourteen percent of those children “ placed” who were originally at risk of MH/ DD/ SAS placement were able to be placed in foster care. Twenty percent of children at risk of Juvenile Justice placement were served in foster care, and an additional 3% at risk of Juvenile Justice placement were placed, instead, in MH/ DD/ SAS facilities, presumably because they were found to need these services rather than incarceration. On the other hand, 79% of the children who were originally at risk of placement into foster care, and who were placed, were placed in that system. A small number ( 5%) of these children were found during IFPS to need MH/ DD/ SAS services, and an even smaller number ( 3%) were found to need more restrictive Juvenile Justice placement. These differences in placement outcomes, when compared to risk of placement at referral, are highly statistically significant ( Chi Square = 314.303; df = 12; p add’l. cost
20%
3,808,331
2,134,925
< 1,673,406> add’l. cost
10%
3,808,331
1,067,463
< 2,740,868> add’l. cost
0%
3,808,331
0
< 3,808,331> add’l. cost
This table is adapted from a method developed by the Center for the Study of Social Policy ( CSSP, Working Paper FP- 6, 1989).
The two shaded rows of data from Table 14 illustrate that the “ fiscal break- even point” for IFPS occurs at about the 36% ( 35.67648%) placement prevention rate, whereas the IFPS program actually performed at a 95.5% placement prevention rate in SFY 2004. This yields a
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 53
range of 59.8% ( between the 35.7% “ break- even” point and the 95.5% “ performance” rate) of children served within which program critics can argue about the cost effectiveness of the program and the cost/ benefit produced. However, the data clearly demonstrate that the program is very cost effective.
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 54
Summary of Major Findings from the Outcome- Focused Evaluation of North Carolina’s Intensive Family Preservation Services Program
♦ Intensive Family Preservation Services are able to improve family functioning in all areas measured by the NCFAS.
♦ Some areas of family functioning ( e. g., Parental Capabilities, Family Interactions, Family Safety, Child Well- Being) are more amenable to change during a brief intervention than other areas ( e. g., Environment).
♦ Family functioning scores on all domains, as measured on the NCFAS, are statistically significantly associated with placement and non- placement at the end of IFPS. This finding supports concurrent validity of the NCFAS.
♦ Overall, placement prevention rates have been very stable, ranging between 88% and 94% of families each year since SFY 1994.
♦ In addition to placement prevention, IFPS services are statistically significantly associated with reductions in the “ level or care” needed among those children who are placed at the end of IFPS services.
♦ The retrospective study continues to demonstrate the clear superiority of IFPS over traditional services when risk factors are controlled or accounted for in the analysis.
♦ Retrospective study survival curves indicate a predictable attrition phenomenon among IFPS families that occurs by 6 months after IFPS. Follow- up services implemented as a result of this finding are providing additional family contact and opportunity for additional services that will hopefully reduce this attrition. These data will be available for analysis in the late spring of SFY 2005.
♦ Further inspection of placement rates bolsters last year’s finding that IFPS may be useful in addressing racial disparities in service outcomes that exist in the child welfare population.
♦ IFPS program cost analysis indicates that IFPS is a very cost- effective program. It also revealed a very favorable cost/ benefit ratio.
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 55
APPENDIX A
Intensive Family Preservation Services Provider List
Provider
Contact Person
Counties Served
Departments of Social Services
Cabarrus Co. DSS
1303 S. Cannon Blvd.
Concord, NC 28083
Cathy Rucker
( 704) 920- 1523
Fax: ( 704) 255- 5260
Cabarrus
Catawba Co. DSS
PO Box 669
Newton, NC 28658
Charlotte Rorie
( 828) 261- 2517
Fax: ( 828) 328- 4729
Catawba
Cleveland Co. DSS
1235- 1 Fallston Rd.
Shelby, NC 28151
* Managed by AFI
Kim Reel
( 704) 471- 2444
Fax ( 704) 471- 2515
Cleveland
Gaston Co. DSS
330 N. Marietta St.
Gastonia, NC 28052
Penny Plyler
( 704) 862- 7989
Fax: ( 704) 862- 7885
Gaston
Iredell Co. DSS
PO Box 1146
Statesville, NC 28687
* Managed by AFI
Brenda Caldwell
( 828) 433- 7187
Fax: ( 828) 437- 8329
Iredell
Area Mental Health Programs *
Centerpointe Area MH/ DD/ SAS
836 Oak St. Suite 100
Winston- Salem, NC 27101
Marya Maxwell
( 336) 607- 8595
Fax: ( 336) 607- 8564
Davie, Forsyth, Stokes
Cumberland Area MH/ DD/ SAS
711 Executive Pl.
Fayetteville, NC 28302
Rodney Benn
( 910) 323- 2311
Fax: ( 910) 323- 9183
Contracts # 1& 2 - Cumberland
Foothills Area MH/ DD/ SAS
486 Spaulding Rd.
Marion, NC 28752
Jim Hamilton
( 828) 652- 5444
Fax: ( 828) 652- 7257
Alexander, Burke, Caldwell
Piedmont Behavioral Health Care
1305 S. Cannon Blvd.
Kannapolis, NC 28083
Revella Nesbitt
( 704) 939- 1151
Fax: ( 704) 939- 1120
Cabarrus
Piedmont Behavioral Health Care
1807 East Innes St.
Salisbury, NC 28146
Robert Werstlien
( 704) 630- 4673
Fax: ( 704) 633- 5902
Rowan
Sandhills Center for MH/ DD/ SAS
PO Box 631
Rockingham, NC 28379
Jeannie King
( 910) 895- 2476
Fax: ( 910) 895- 9896
Richmond
Smoky Mountain Counseling Center
154 Medical Park Loop
Sylvia, NC 28779
Marsha Reynolds
( 828) 586- 8958
Fax: ( 828) 586- 0649
Haywood, Jackson, Swain, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 56
Private Agencies
Appalachian Family Innovations ( AFI)
204 Avery Ave.
Morganton, NC 28655
Brenda Caldwell
( 828) 433- 7187
Fax: ( 828) 437- 8329
Contract # 1 – Burke, Caldwell
Contract # 2 - Rutherford
Caring for Children
PO Box 19113
Asheville, NC 28815
* Subcontract of Buncombe Co. DSS
Lara Turner
( 828) 250- 5520
Fax ( 828) 255- 5260
Buncombe
Choanoke Area Development Assoc. ( CADA)
PO Box 530
Rich Square, NC 27869- 0530
Joyce Scott
( 252) 537- 9304
Fax: ( 252) 539- 2048
Halifax, Northampton
Exchange Club/ SCAN
500 West Northwest Blvd.
Winston- Salem, NC 27105
George Bryan, Jr.
( 336) 748- 9028
Fax: ( 828) 748- 9030
Davie, Forsyth, Stokes
Person County Family Connections
304 South Morgan St. Room 111
Roxboro, NC 27573
April Duckworth
( 336) 597- 1746
Fax; ( 336) 598- 0272
Person
Family Services of the Piedmont
315 East Washington St.
Greensboro, NC 27401
Sue Spidell
( 336) 387- 6161
Fax: ( 336) 387- 9167
Guilford
Martin County Community Action, Inc.
PO Box 806
311 East Ray St.
Williamston, NC 27895- 0806
Tina Garrett
( 252) 792- 7111
Fax: ( 252) 792- 1248
Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Curritcuk, Gates, Hertford, Martin, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt
Methodist Home for Children
PO Box 10917
Raleigh, NC 28605
Tom Fleetwood
( 919) 833- 2834
Fax ( 919) 755- 1833
Contract # 1 - Brunswick, Chatham, New Hanover, Pender, Pitt, Scotland, Wake, Wayne
Contract # 2 – Johnston
Contract # 3 – Robeson
Contract # 4 – Beaufort, Cartaret, Craven, Dare, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Onslow, Pamlico, Tyrrell, Washington
Mountain Youth Resources ( MYR)
20 Colonial Square
Sylvia, NC 28779
Marsha Reynolds
( 828) 586- 8958
Fax: ( 828) 586- 0649
Cherokee, Clay, Macon, Graham
Rainbow Center, Inc.
PO Box 1194
North Wilksboro, NC 28659
Glenda Andrews
( 336) 667- 3333
Fax: ( 336) 667- 0212
Wilkes
Youth Focus, Inc.
301 East Washington St.
Greensboro, NC 27401
Betsy Winston
( 336) 333- 6853
Fax: ( 336) 333- 6815
Guilford
Youth Homes
500 East Morehead St. Suite 120
Charlotte, NC 28202
Valerie Iseah
( 704) 334- 9955
Fax: ( 704) 375- 7497
Mecklenburg
* Due to the ongoing reorganization of North Carolina’s Mental Health providers, these agencies
may no longer exist under the name listed in this Appendix.
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 57
Note: Some agencies have multiple contracts as the result of the expansion of services through a competitive bidding process that took place in 2000.
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 58
APPENDIX B
Program Allocations and Expenditures for SYF 2003- 2004
Intensive Family Preservation Programs
Provider
Allocation
Actual Expenditure
Departments of Social Services
Cabarrus Co. DSS
$ 62,193
$ 62,193
Catawba Co. DSS
$ 75,000
$ 75,000
Cleveland Co. DSS - Managed by AFI
*
*
Gaston Co. DSS
$ 156,220
$ 156, 220
Iredell Co. DSS - Managed by AFI
$ 100,838
$ 128,792
Area Mental Health Programs
Centerpointe Area MH/ DD/ SAS
$ 42,773
$ 35,915
Cumberland Area MH/ DD/ SAS
$ 219,217
$ 199,163
Cumberland Area MH/ DD/ SAS
$ 32,582
$ 32.582
Foothills Area MH/ DD/ SAS
$ 39,822
$ 39,822
Piedmont Behavioral Health Care
None
Not Provided
Piedmont Behavioral Health Care
$ 67,541
$ 64,681
Sandhills Center for MH/ DD/ SAS
$ 75,000
$ 75,000
Smoky Mountain Counseling Center
$ 90,506
$ 89,100
Private Agencies
Appalachian Family Innovations ( AFI)
$ 664,490*
$ 598,090*
Caring for Children -
Subcontract of Buncombe Co. DSS
$ 106,785
$ 81,898
Choanoke Area Development Assoc. ( CADA)
$ 125,000
$ 125,000
Exchange Club/ SCAN
$ 95,000
$ 95,000
Person County Family Connections
$ 75,000
$ 75,000
Family Services of the Piedmont
$ 240,000
$ 225,958
Martin County Community Action, Inc.
$ 150,000
$ 138,298
Methodist Home for Children
$ 799,034
$ 694,909
Methodist Home for Children – Johnston
$ 74,949
$ 64,899
Methodist Home for Children – Robeson
$ 119,111
$ 89,846
Methodist Home for Children – Region 10
$ 237,554
$ 237,553
Mountain Youth Resources ( MYR)
$ 150,000
$ 150,000
Rainbow Center, Inc.
$ 55,000
$ 55,000
Youth Focus, Inc.
a
a
Youth Homes
$ 279,645
$ 224,352
* AFI had one contract that included IFPS services for Burke, Caldwell, and Rutherford counties, as well as Cleveland County ( with money formerly allocated to the DSS), and also Reunification services for Burke, Caldwell and Cleveland counties ( again through money formerly allocated to the DSS). Due to the way the contract for 2003- 2004 was processed the specific amounts for each type of service and service area could not be broken down separately. $ 598,090 of the $ 664,490 contracted amount was spent on the provision of IFPS and Reunification services by AFI.
a – Youth Focus is a subcontract of Family Services of the Piedmont and their allocation/ actual expenditure is included under Family Services of the Piedmont.
North Carolina Division of Social Services-- IFPS Annual Report, SFY 2004 59